Democrats have selected South Carolina to hold the first presidential nominating contest in 2028. The decision Friday most likely cements a
JOEY CAPPELLETTI and MEG KINNARD at AP News:
WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina was selected Friday to once again lead off the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nominating schedule, cementing a dramatic break from decades of tradition by leaving Iowa out of the early-state lineup altogether and elevating more racially diverse states. The decision by the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will need to be approved by the full organization, which is scheduled to meet in August. Nevada is expected to follow South Carolina, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia rounding out the early-state calendar. Those states will wield outsized influence in the nominating contest before Super Tuesday, when voters across a large group of states cast presidential primary ballots. “This calendar will battle test our candidates, ensure our nominee can appeal to broad swaths of the electorate and this calendar will allow voters, not money, but voters to be the ultimate decider,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said after the vote. The overhaul reflects Democrats’ effort to give greater influence to states that better mirror the party’s diverse coalition, particularly Black and Latino voters, after years of a calendar led by Iowa and New Hampshire, two states with overwhelmingly white electorates. But hopes of emerging from Friday’s meeting with a party unified around one map were dashed by anger from states that had previously led the process. Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said she was disappointed but not surprised by Friday’s calendar vote, which she called “very messy” and a sign that the national party is “out of touch with voters.”
There was more angst in New Hampshire, where the secretary of state is required by law to schedule its presidential primary at least seven days before any other state holds a similar contest, setting up a potential conflict with the DNC calendar.
[...]
Democrats elevate more diverse states
Democrats opted to lead with South Carolina after President Joe Biden successfully pushed to move the state to the front of Democrats’ 2024 calendar after the state revived his struggling 2020 presidential campaign. South Carolina has long been the first Southern contest and has served as a key test of candidates’ support among Black voters. [...]
Anger emerges from states that are not selected
Iowa has long led both parties’ calendars with caucuses. Hart declined to say whether Iowa Democrats will defy the national party in 2028. She said they will wait until after the state’s midterm races when Democrats hope to make recently unattainable gains in the increasingly conservative state. “We’re going to win elections here, and then we’re going to tell them what we’re going to do,” said Scott Brennan, who formerly represented Iowa on the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee. New Hampshire Democrats similarly would not commit Friday to following the new calendar. “This committee’s vote does not change the realities governing New Hampshire’s primary, which are beyond the control of both this committee and our state party,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. Asked about some states not committing to the new calendar, Martin said the party will “have to cross that bridge when we get there.”
The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee has voted the following six states to be the Early 6 on a provisional basis, pending a full DNC vote:
South Carolina: January 22, 2028
Nevada: February 1, 2028
New Hampshire: February 8, 2028
New Mexico: February 15, 2028
Michigan: February 22, 2028
Virginia: February 29, 2028
South Carolina is set to repeat as the kickoff state, followed by Nevada and then New Hampshire (which is statutorily supposed to go first) to round out the Traditional Early States. 2024 Early State holdover Michigan will be joined by New Mexico and Virginia to complete the Early 6.
Once again, Iowa will NOT be a part of the early states.
See Also:
DNC: DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Proposes Early States for 2028 Democratic Presidential Nominating Calendar
The Guardian: Democrats move to keep South Carolina as first state to vote in 2028 presidential primaries
