Democrats Restructure 2028 Primary Calendar, Prioritizing Diversity
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has chosen a new roadmap for its early presidential primaries in 2028. South Carolina, known for its substantial African American voter base, will now be the first state to hold a Democratic primary. This decision comes after discussions in Texas and positions South Carolina at the forefront of a six-state series of early contests.
Following South Carolina, Nevada, notable for its significant Latino population and labor influence, will hold its primary. The sequence continues with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. This shift reflects a major change from the traditional role of Iowa and New Hampshire as the kickoff states in the Democratic primary process.
The DNC decided to forego Iowa after the problematic 2020 caucuses, which saw complications in vote tallying and led to delays. New Hampshire, typically the first to hold primaries, also opposed the change. The new schedule allows states to hold their contests from late January to the end of February, with other states following thereafter.
“Our 2028 nominee, whoever they are, will have to earn support across the full breadth of America. Every region, every demographic, every generation,” said Ken Martin, DNC Chair.
This change comes after the 2024 election cycle, where then-Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. Biden, facing doubts due to his age and public missteps, stepped down, endorsing Harris. Many party leaders later regretted not allowing more contenders to run for the nomination.
Biden’s initial choice of South Carolina as the first primary state was strategic. The state played a crucial role in reviving his 2020 campaign after underwhelming performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. Following this, the party questioned why two predominantly white states were so influential in a diverse electorate.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart criticized the new schedule, stating that Iowa’s exclusion means no Midwestern state will be among the early primaries. She highlighted that Republicans will still start their 2028 primaries in Iowa. Hart warned that this gives Republicans an advantage in garnering attention and funding, impacting not only presidential elections but also congressional races.