Democrats Redraw 2028 Primary Calendar, Potentially Bypassing Iowa

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is set to vote on Friday on a revised schedule for the 2028 presidential nomination. The proposal would remove Iowa from the opening slot and elevate either South Carolina or Nevada to the first contest, with a fourth early state selected from the Midwest and a possible fifth slot still under consideration. The full DNC is slated to approve the plan at its August meeting.

Associated Press

Democratic leaders argue that the traditional early-state sequence—dominated for decades by the overwhelmingly white electorates of Iowa and New Hampshire—does not reflect the party’s increasingly diverse base. After President Joe Biden successfully moved South Carolina to the front of the 2024 calendar, officials see an opportunity to give greater influence to states with larger Black and Latino populations, strong union presence, and battleground relevance.

Associated Press

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – New York Representative and potential 2028 candidate; supports breaking from the entrenched order.

Associated Press

• Susie Lee – Nevada Representative; argues Nevada’s Hispanic, Black, and union demographics make it an ideal early test.

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• Rev. Al Sharpton – Civil-rights leader; warns that sidelining South Carolina after a single cycle could diminish Black voter power.

Associated Press

• Pete Buttigieg – Former Transportation Secretary now residing in Michigan; has cultivated relationships that could make an early Michigan primary advantageous.

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• Jim Clyburn – South Carolina Representative; hosts candidates at his annual fish fry, signaling the state’s continued relevance.

Associated Press

Early-state outcomes often shape candidate momentum, fundraising capacity, and media coverage. With no incumbent president or clear frontrunner, the order of contests could significantly affect which hopefuls emerge as viable contenders, especially those targeting diverse electorates and union-heavy regions.

Associated Press

• “I think that it is good that we don’t take the order for granted, and just copy and paste it every cycle,” — New York Rep. Alexandria

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• “If you want to have a robust indicator of what an American electorate will be like, that will put us in the strongest position to put forth a primary candidate, I think it’s pretty clear that Nevada should be first,” — Nevada Rep. Susie Lee

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• “If South Carolina gets quietly bumped after one cycle of convenient praise, that sends a message louder than any speech at a Democratic dinner: the gratitude was performance, not policy,” — Rev. Al Sharpton

Associated Press