DNC selects South Carolina as first 2028 Democratic primary state, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire

DNC finalizes South Carolina-first calendar

The Democratic National Committee voted on Aug. 15, 2026, at its summer meeting in Austin, Texas, to make South Carolina the first state to vote in the party's 2028 presidential primaries. The vote codified a July decision by the DNC's Rules & Bylaws Committee. South Carolina and Nevada had competed for the top spot in a contest that became a proxy battle between the party's Black and Latino bases. The DNC said the calendar provides the "most diverse open field early window in Democratic Party history" and will allow the party "to battle-test candidates while maintaining an open, affordable field."

The early window state by state

South Carolina will vote on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on Feb. 1, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, New Mexico on Feb. 15, Michigan on Feb. 22 and Virginia on Feb. 29. All six states vote before Super Tuesday, scheduled for March 7. The order replaces decades of tradition in which Iowa and New Hampshire, two states with largely white populations, opened the nominating process. South Carolina, with a large Black population, and Nevada, with numerous Hispanic voters, will now lead, a shift the party says will give Black and Latino voters greater influence in picking the nominee.

Ken Martin's pitch

DNC Chair Ken Martin, who delivered the calendar to the membership, framed the six-state lineup as a unified path to the White House.

“Six states, different regions, different communities, different experiences but together as one our road map to the White House.”

Martin also said in a statement that the DNC had delivered a calendar that "truly represents our party and our values, and will help us retake the White House in 2028."

New Hampshire and Iowa may resist

Uncertainty remains in two states whose own laws conflict with the national calendar. New Hampshire has a state law requiring its primary to be first in the nation; the DNC is allowing the state to hold a party-organized primary on Feb. 8, but Democrats in the state have so far resisted being relegated to third. Iowa's legislation requires it to hold caucuses before any other state. The DNC voted on Saturday to strengthen penalties for states that circumvent the calendar and for candidates who campaign in states that jump the line.

The party tried a similar reorder in 2024, when former President Joe Biden persuaded Democrats to put South Carolina first. New Hampshire defied the national party and held its primary in January anyway. Biden declined to appear on the New Hampshire ballot, his supporters organized a write-in campaign, and the DNC eventually rescinded its penalties and seated the state's delegates at the convention.

Potential contenders already circling

Several Democrats mentioned as possible 2028 presidential contenders have visited South Carolina in recent months, including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. South Carolina was crucial to Biden's path to the 2020 nomination, and the state's early position in 2028 is expected to draw campaign spending and media attention to the state's electorate, which includes a significant African American population.