DNC Chair: 2028 Primary Calendar Process Begins This Month

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 3, 2025 – The Democratic National Committee is set to begin hashing out the 2028 primary calendar this month. DNC Chair Ken Martin announced Sunday that the party will start deliberations at a meeting in Minneapolis.

“We’re going to start that conversation actually this month in August at our DNC meeting in Minneapolis,” Martin stated in an interview.He confirmed that the newly formed Rules and Bylaws Committee will initiate the process. The committee will propose rules and procedures to guide the selection of early primary states. Martin expects the calendar to be finalized by the end of next year, with the process unfolding over the next twelve months. The DNC aims to create a primary schedule that effectively prepares a nominee for the general election while ensuring a fair competition among candidates.

Did you know? The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is a permanent body responsible for recommending changes to the party’s governing documents,including the presidential nominating process.

The decision to begin calendar discussions now comes after scrutiny of the 2024 primary schedule. Chris Stirewalt questioned Martin about the 2024 changes, which prioritized South Carolina and Michigan – states where then-candidate Joe Biden was projected to perform strongly. Stirewalt suggested the moves unduly benefited the incumbent president.Martin, elected chair in February, responded by emphasizing his commitment to a more open process. He asserted that any state interested in hosting an early primary should have the chance to bid for consideration.

Pro tip: States vying for an early primary spot should focus on demonstrating their ability to represent the diversity of the Democratic electorate and efficiently manage a large-scale election.

Looking ahead to 2028,Martin anticipates a perhaps crowded field of candidates. He outlined three guiding principles for setting the calendar: rigor, efficiency, and fairness. Rigor, he explained, means the schedule must “battle test our nominee and prepares them for the general election.” Efficiency is crucial to prevent candidates from exhausting resources prematurely, as “the only prize that matters is November.” Fairness, according to Martin, means ensuring “all of our candidates… to actually compete in those early states.” The DNC intends to balance these principles to create a competitive and effective nominating process. The process will conclude with a finalized calendar by the end of 2026.

Reader question: How much weight will the DNC give to a state’s ability to attract media attention and fundraising when considering its bid for an early primary?