DNC Rules Committee Names South Carolina First 2028 Primary State

The Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday to establish South Carolina as the first state in the 2028 presidential primary calendar. The decision follows an acrimonious dispute between South Carolina and Nevada leaders over which state's coalition should lead the process. South Carolina was ultimately selected over Nevada, partly due to concerns regarding Nevada's ability to process election results quickly.

The committee recommended a six-state early voting block consisting of South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. This move permanently removes Iowa from its traditional status as the first-in-the-nation site, a shift driven by a desire to empower racially diverse electorates and a reaction to coding failures during the 2020 Iowa Caucuses. The prioritization of South Carolina specifically aims to amplify the influence of Black voters following a Supreme Court ruling that restricted the Voting Rights Act.

Democratic Party leaders, including DNC Chairman Ken Martin, pushed for a swift decision to avoid accusations of partiality before the 2026 midterm elections. While the Rules and Bylaws Committee has set the recommendation, the schedule must be ratified by the full DNC during its scheduled meeting in August in Austin, Texas. In contrast, the Republican Party is expected to maintain its traditional sequence starting with Iowa and New Hampshire.