WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday that South Carolina should hold the party’s first primary in the 2028 presidential election cycle.
The recommendation came after a competitive 26-19-4 vote in South Carolina’s favor over Nevada and New Hampshire. The decision is now pending final confirmation from a full vote of the DNC next month.
If finalized, it will mark the second straight presidential primary cycle led by South Carolina, after the Palmetto State served as the first contest in 2024.
The committee also voted to expand the maximum number of early primaries to six, up from the base of four — with one state representing each region of the DNC.
The committee voted in favor of New Hampshire, Michigan and Nevada to make up the other three early primaries that represent regions. New Mexico, whose Feb. 15 primary is ahead of Michigan’s, and Virginia were selected as the additional two states to hold an early primary.
Notably, Iowa, which for years was home to first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses for Democrats, will likely not be part of the early group in 2028, if the committee’s recommendations are upheld.
That decision came despite a pitch from Iowans to Democratic leaders that the party cannot afford to lose Iowa voters or the input of rural Midwesterners.
Iowa prevailed as first in the nation in the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, but many Democrats sought a shift away from the state after significant controversies with how the caucuses were run in 2020. There were long delays in reporting the results, and no winner was declared on the night of the caucus.
In addition, former President Joe Biden backed South Carolina as the new leader in the nominating process after his victory there in 2020 propelled him to the front of the presidential field ahead of Super Tuesday.
Voting rights ruling cited
During the meeting Friday, many committee members championed South Carolina as a choice from the party to better reach its Southern constituents and base of Black voters.
Committee member Donna Brazile, a national Democratic consultant and two-time DNC chair, was the first to recommend South Carolina. Citing the recent Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act, she said Democrats must break down the barriers many Americans face to have their voices heard.
“We must start our process where democracy must still be fought for in the full view of the nation, where our coalitions can be tested, strengthened, and made real,” she said in emotional remarks, her voice occasionally wavering. “ We’re the party that will give every American citizen, every eligible voter a seat at our table, and again, that starts in the South, (with) Black voters.”
The committee’s co-chairs, Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt, Jr., said in a statement that the calendar is “rigorous, fair, and efficient” and the “most diverse calendar Democrats have ever had for an open nominating contest.”
After committee members voted for their recommendations, DNC Chair Ken Martin in a public statement praised “their diligent work and commitment to a fair and transparent selection process.”
“As a result of their hard work, today, Democrats took a critical step toward retaking the White House in 2028 by ensuring we have the strongest possible nominee,” he said.
The early group
The committee’s recommended dates for the six primary contests are as follows:
- South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028
- Nevada on Feb. 1, 2028
- New Hampshire on Feb. 8, 2028
- New Mexico on Feb. 15, 2028
- Michigan on Feb. 22, 2028
- Virginia on Feb. 29, 2028
The full DNC will vote on the proposal during its next meeting, which will span from Aug. 13-15.
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