Democratic panel picks South Carolina as first primary state
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A Democratic National Committee panel has recommended that South Carolina again hold the party’s first 2028 presidential nominating contest, extending the state’s leading role from 2024. The decision, still subject to approval by the full DNC in August, keeps Black Democratic voters highly influential at the start of an expected open race for the nomination.
The proposed early-state order is South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia. The panel chose South Carolina over Nevada after a contested debate over whether Black or Latino voters should have the earliest influence; Iowa was not selected, continuing its removal from the Democrats’ opening contests after its troubled 2020 caucuses.
- South Carolina is recommended to open Democrats’ 2028 nomination race.
- Six states would vote early under the proposed calendar.
- Full DNC approval is due in August.
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