Democratic National Committee Proposes South Carolina First for 2028 Primary

The Democratic National Committee is proposing a major restructuring of the 2028 presidential primary calendar to prioritize diversity and stability. The new plan designates South Carolina as the first early voting state, a move intended to highlight the party's large Black Democratic voting bloc and ensure early contests better reflect the national electorate.

Under this proposal, Iowa will be removed from the early window, ending its long-standing role as a Democratic launching point. This shift follows previous scrutiny over the chaotic 2020 Iowa caucuses. Following South Carolina, the early voting sequence will include Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia.

These changes diverge from the strategy of the Republican National Committee, which is expected to maintain a more traditional calendar for 2028 by keeping Iowa and New Hampshire among its earliest contests.