▁▁▁▁ ▁To ▁continue ▁traditional ▁early ▁prim aries ▁in ▁Iowa ▁and ▁New ▁Ham pshire , ▁they ▁would ▁be ▁permitted ▁to ▁hold ▁their ▁prim aries ▁or ▁c au cus ▁before ▁any ▁of ▁the ▁regions . ▁▁▁ ▁Regional ▁Group ings : ▁ ▁East : ▁Connecticut , ▁Del aware , ▁Maine , ▁Maryland , ▁Massachusetts , ▁New ▁Jersey , ▁New ▁York , ▁Pennsylvania , ▁Rh ode ▁Island , ▁Verm ont , ▁West ▁Virginia ▁and ▁the ▁District ▁of ▁Columbia . ▁South : ▁Alabama , ▁Ark ansas , ▁Florida , ▁Georgia , ▁Kentucky , ▁Louisiana , ▁Mississippi , ▁North ▁Carolina , ▁Oklahoma , ▁South ▁Carolina , ▁Tennessee , ▁Texas , ▁Virginia , ▁Puerto ▁Rico ▁and ▁the ▁Virgin ▁Islands . ▁Mid west : ▁Illinois , ▁Indiana , ▁Kansas , ▁Michigan , ▁Minnesota , ▁Missouri , ▁Neb r aska , ▁North ▁Dak ota , ▁Ohio , ▁South ▁Dak ota ▁and ▁Wisconsin . ▁West : ▁Al aska , ▁Arizona , ▁California , ▁Colorado , ▁Hawai i , ▁Id aho , ▁Mont ana , ▁Nev ada , ▁New ▁Mexico , ▁Oregon , ▁Ut ah , ▁Washington , ▁Wy oming ▁and ▁Gu am . ▁ ▁Crit ic ism ▁Both ▁the ▁Republican ▁and ▁Democratic ▁parties ▁have ▁been ▁lu ke w arm ▁to ▁the ▁concept . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁the ▁Republican ▁National ▁Committee ' s ▁Ad vis ory ▁Commission ▁on ▁the ▁President ial ▁N omin ating ▁Process ▁passed ▁over ▁the ▁Rot ating ▁Regional ▁plan ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁the ▁Del aware ▁Plan . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁the