The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee has selected South Carolina to once again initiate the party's 2028 presidential nominating schedule. This decision marks a significant departure from decades of tradition, notably excluding Iowa from the early-state lineup and elevating more racially diverse states. The full DNC is expected to approve this decision in August.
Following South Carolina, Nevada is anticipated to hold its primary, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia rounding out the early-state calendar. These states are set to wield considerable influence in the nominating contest before Super Tuesday, when a large number of states cast their primary ballots. The move to prioritize diverse states was championed by President Joe Biden, who advocated for South Carolina leading the 2024 calendar after its role in reviving his 2020 presidential campaign.
The decision to keep South Carolina first underscores the party's emphasis on racial diversity and the importance of voting rights for the Black community. Jaime Harrison, a former DNC chair, highlighted that this signals to Black voters their value to the party. The inclusion of New Mexico, with a significant Latino population, as an early state alongside Nevada, is seen by some as a "consolation prize" for the Latino community, who might otherwise feel underrepresented in the initial primary state. This new calendar reflects the Democrats' strategic efforts to engage a broader, more diverse electorate in the presidential nominating process.
