The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Rules and Bylaws Committee has recommended that South Carolina serve as the first state in the 2028 presidential primary calendar. In a preliminary vote, 26 committee members supported South Carolina, while 19 voted for Nevada and four voted for New Hampshire. The proposal, which would schedule the South Carolina primary for Jan. 22, 2028, must be finalized by a vote of the full DNC during its summer meeting from Aug. 13–15.
Prioritizing Diversity and Black Voters
The push to place South Carolina first is driven by a desire to prioritize Black voters, who are described as the backbone of the Democratic Party
and a reliable, influential voting bloc. According to state voting data, nearly one in four registered voters in South Carolina is Black, and the state’s share of Black residents is just over 25%, roughly double the U.S. average. Supporters of the move argue that the party must recognize the importance of these voters in the nominating calendar.
Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, stated that Democrats have to start winning in the South
if the party is serious about changing the country. Allies of the state further noted that prioritizing Black voters is particularly significant following a Supreme Court Voting Rights Act decision that resulted in several states drawing new congressional boundaries in districts previously ruled in violation of the law.
The move follows a precedent set in 2024 when then-President Joe Biden persuaded the DNC to move South Carolina to the front of the calendar. Biden had previously written that it was time to give these voters a louder and earlier voice in the process
. This shift was partly influenced by Biden’s own 2020 campaign, which was resuscitated by an endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn and a victory in the South Carolina primary after Biden struggled in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The 2028 Early Nominating Window
The Rules and Bylaws Committee has proposed a specific sequence for six states permitted to hold primaries before Super Tuesday on March 7, 2028. The recommended order and dates are as follows:
- South Carolina: Jan. 22, 2028
- Nevada: Feb. 1, 2028
- New Hampshire: Feb. 8, 2028
- New Mexico: Feb. 15, 2028
- Michigan: Feb. 22, 2028
- Virginia: Feb. 29, 2028
University of Virginia Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato noted that the order of these early states can affect the identity of the nominee. He specifically highlighted that Virginia’s inclusion in the early window is a first for the state and could potentially make it a critical primary in determining the nominee.
Opposition and Alternative Arguments
The proposal faced opposition from representatives of other states. David McDonald, a committee member, argued that the process should start in npr.org, citing its combination of Latino, Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American voters. Some members also expressed concerns regarding Nevada’s ability to process election results rapidly.
In New Hampshire, the decision was met with criticism from party and state officials. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley stated that the vote showed party insiders had learned nothing from 2024
. New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan and Rep. Ross Berry emphasized that state law, which dates back to 1913, requires the state to hold its primary at least seven days before any similar election in another state. Scanlan asserted that the state would defend our law and the tradition
of going first.
Additionally, some critics argue that while diversity is a strength, early primaries should function as a “proving ground” for candidate performance. They point to the historical success of the Iowa caucuses—which lost its first-in-the-nation status after 2020 vote-counting errors—in picking eventual nominees such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Al Gore.
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