Democrats decided Saturday on a new 2028 presidential primary calendar, with South Carolina to be the first in January.
Then, Nevada will be on Feb. 1, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, New Mexico on Feb. 15, Michigan on Feb. 22 and Virginia on Feb. 29.
“These states reflect the diversity of America and will help ensure our nominee is best positioned to take back the White House in 2028,” Democratic National Convention chair Ken Martin said on X.
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This calendar signals a shift from previous years, when Iowa and New Hampshire, less diverse states, were the ones to begin the primary process.
This was something Martin acknowledged in his speech at the DNC Summer Meeting in Austin, Texas.
“South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia — six states, different regions, different communities, different experiences — but together as one, our roadmap to the White House,” Martin said. “Our 2028 nominee, whoever they are, will have to earn the support across the full breadth of America, every region, every demographic, every generation, every economic station in life — no shortcuts, no coronation. You want to lead this party? You go earn it. Go and earn it.”
More than 4.6 million Black Americans and more than 4.2 million Latinos, as well as nearly 1.4 million Asian American, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, live in the DNC’s six starting states, Martin said.
“If you’re not strong with Latino voters or if you’re not strong with Black voters, you know you can only get so far in this calendar,” CBS News contributor and Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha noted.
Iowa is still facing the fallout from a chaotic 2020 caucus, filled with reporting delays and even initial errors, something that reportedly factored into the decision to ax it from the beginning primary slots.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said before the vote that the Democratic party is overlooking the Midwest, arguing that by choosing South Carolina, it is turning its back on a state that could turn out big Democratic victories in this year’s midterms.
“The 2028 calendar has no representation of states with a majority of Central or Mountain time zones, and no Midwest state is among the first four,” Hart said, according to NOTUS.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley expressed disappointment over the loss of the number one spot in his own statement, saying that the case for his state “remains as strong as ever.”
“Time and again, New Hampshire has proven we are uniquely suited to battle-test candidates. Our small, purple state gives candidates a level playing field with the opportunity to meet voters face-to-face, answer tough questions, and earn support one conversation at a time,” Buckley said. “We will continue making the case to ensure that Granite Staters have a meaningful voice in choosing the next Democratic nominee for president.”
DNC rules and bylaws committee member Maria Cardona defended the calendar, saying that with it, “the party wins, the country wins, and Democrats are able to prioritize all of our diverse constituencies and communities and working men and women!”
“The DNC’s new primary calendar uplifts black voters, Latino voters, AAPI voters, Native American voters, labor, military and veteran families, suburban voters, urban voters, rural voters, working class voters – ALL the voters that have been betrayed by Trump and Republicans!” Cardona said on X. “The 2028 Dem nominee will be battle-tested, and prepared to trounce the Republican nominee and win back the White House!”