Democratic National Convention (DNC) Rules Committee Poised to Decide 2028 Primary Calendar, Nevada and South Carolina in Tight Race

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting this week in Washington, D.C. to recommend which states will occupy the “early window” of the 2028 presidential nominating calendar. The panel will recommend up to five states, after which the full DNC will vote at its August meeting. Nevada and South Carolina have emerged as the leading contenders for the top slots, while other states such as Michigan, New Hampshire, Virginia and New Mexico are also seeking early placement.

CNN

For decades the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary opened the Democratic contest. After the 2020 Iowa debacle, the party shifted toward more demographically diverse early states, elevating South Carolina in 2024 at the urging of President Joe Biden. The 2023 DNC decision formally placed South Carolina first for that cycle, citing its larger Black electorate. The current deliberations continue that trend, with the party seeking a calendar that reflects Black, Latino, Asian-American, Pacific-Islander, Native American and working-class voters.

PBS News HourDemocrats Poised to Upend 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar as Nevada and South Carolina Vie for First CNNDemocratic National Committee set to take key vote towards determining its 2028 presidential calendar The Hill

• Christale Spain – Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee.

CNN

• Daniele Monroe-Moreno – Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, advocating for Nevada’s early slot.

CNN

• Rev. Al Sharpton – Civil-rights leader supporting South Carolina’s first-in-the-nation status.

The Hill

• Black residents comprise roughly 25 % of South Carolina’s population, nearly double the national Black share of 12 % (U.S. Census).

The Hill

• Nevada’s Latino electorate is the state’s largest demographic group and the state also includes sizable Black, Asian-American, Pacific-Islander, Native American and White working-class voting blocs.

CNN

The DNC has not issued a formal comment on the pending recommendation, but the Rules and Bylaws Committee’s prior approval of penalties for out-of-order contests signals that any deviation from the final calendar could affect state party standing and candidate eligibility for debates.

Democratic National Committee set to take key vote towards determining its 2028 presidential calendar

Rev. Al Sharpton’s statement challenges any proposal that would demote South Carolina, framing such a move as a slight to Black voters. Nevada advocates argue that their “large Latino voting bloc” and “strong labor unions” merit the top slot, positioning a Nevada lead as strategic for building a broad coalition needed to win back the White House.

CNN

Committee members described two possible scenarios: one with Nevada first followed by South Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire and a southern state (likely Virginia); another with South Carolina first followed by Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan and New Hampshire. No member disclosed a definitive preference, and the final slate remains unknown until the full DNC votes in August. The precise criteria the committee will use to rank applications have not been publicly detailed.

CNN

The Rules and Bylaws Committee is expected to release its recommendation by the end of the week. The full Democratic National Committee will then consider the slate at its August meeting, after which the early-window order will be formally adopted. States that fail to comply with the final schedule could face penalties, including loss of delegate allocation and exclusion from DNC-sponsored debates.

Democratic National Committee set to take key vote towards determining its 2028 presidential calendar