Democrats Set to Reshape 2028 Primary Calendar With Focus on Diverse States

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is expected to formally approve the party’s 2028 presidential primary schedule on Friday, marking a significant departure from decades of precedent. The decision would remove Iowa from its traditional opening position while elevating states with more racially diverse populations to earlier slots in the nominating process. The full Democratic National Committee must ratify the decision at an August meeting.

South Carolina and Nevada are the leading contenders for the first position on the revised calendar, with each state mounting aggressive campaigns for the distinction. The overhaul reflects Democratic efforts to amplify the influence of states whose demographics better align with the party’s coalition, particularly communities of Black and Latino voters. Iowa and New Hampshire, which have historically anchored the primary schedule, have populations that are overwhelmingly white.

South Carolina’s position as a potential frontrunner stems from President Joe Biden’s successful push to elevate the state during the 2024 primary cycle, following its pivotal role in revitalizing his 2020 campaign. The state has long served as a crucial testing ground for measuring candidate appeal among Black voters. Black leaders and Democratic officials from Southern states have argued that South Carolina deserves to maintain its new elevated status, warning that removing it after a single cycle could signal that Democratic gratitude toward Black voters is superficial.

Nevada has countered with arguments that it better represents the contemporary Democratic electorate through its combination of racial and ethnic diversity, strong labor union presence, and status as a competitive general election battleground. The state boasts one of the nation’s largest Hispanic populations, a significant Black electorate, and hosts the influential Culinary Workers Union, providing candidates early exposure to key Democratic constituencies.

The DNC has determined that four early states will be selected—one representing each U.S. region—while deliberating whether to add a fifth position. The Midwest slot has attracted bids from Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan, with Michigan emerging as a frontrunner for regional consideration. Republicans have indicated they will maintain their traditional early-state structure anchored by Iowa and New Hampshire.

The calendar decision arrives as Democrats prepare for what is anticipated to be a contentious, wide-open presidential primary without an incumbent or established frontrunner. Nearly two decades have elapsed since the party conducted a genuinely competitive primary race. Prospective candidates have already begun building infrastructure in potential early-voting states, with many establishing ties in South Carolina and increasingly focusing on Michigan as a potential launching pad.