The Democratic National Committee has finalized its 2028 primary calendar, naming South Carolina the first-in-the-nation contest and launching a six-state early window that prioritizes Black and Latino voters and labor influence.
After a meeting in Texas, the DNC formally set the early sequence as: South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028; Nevada on Feb. 1; New Hampshire on Feb. 8; New Mexico on Feb. 15; Michigan on Feb. 22; and Virginia on Feb. 29. The party’s plan pushes aside the long-standing early roles of Iowa and New Hampshire, a shift the DNC began enacting in 2024 following problems with Iowa’s 2020 caucuses and longstanding concerns about whether two predominantly white early states properly reflect the party’s diverse electorate.
“Every region, every demographic, every generation,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in opening remarks, stressing that the next nominee must earn support across the country and that there should be “no shortcuts, no coronation.”
The decision follows intense discussion within the party about 2024, when President Joe Biden initially sought re-election but withdrew late after a widely noted debate performance, and Vice President Kamala Harris was quickly elevated to the ticket. Some Democrats have since criticized the party’s handling of that transition and argued for a more open nominating process.
South Carolina’s elevation traces back to 2020, when its large African American electorate helped revive Biden’s campaign after weak showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. That outcome prompted party leaders to reconsider whether the early nominating states should better reflect the party’s racial and ethnic diversity.
Not everyone within the Democratic coalition accepts the change. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart criticized the move, warning that removing Iowa from the early lineup leaves the Midwest out of the first four states and could give Republicans an organizational and media advantage if they continue to open their nominating calendar in Iowa. Longtime New Hampshire Democratic Chair Ray Buckley called the change “disappointing,” pointing to a New Hampshire law that requires its primary be held early and arguing the state offers a valuable small-state testing ground for candidates.
The DNC maintains it is not bound by individual state laws about primary scheduling and has prioritized a calendar it says will better reflect the party’s electorate. The new timetable covers the late-January through February window, after which other states may schedule their contests.
The move caps a continuing debate within the Democratic Party about who should shape the early test of presidential candidates and how best to ensure a competitive process that reflects the party’s diversity and strengthens its chances in the general election.