Democrats Overhaul Primary Calendar
DNC to Finalize 2028 Presidential Calendar, Prioritizing More Diverse States
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Democrats are poised to lock in a dramatically reshaped 2028 presidential nominating calendar on Friday, one that keeps Iowa off the top of the schedule for the first time in decades, according to AP News. South Carolina or Nevada — both far more racially diverse than Iowa or New Hampshire — are expected to lead the calendar instead.
The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee will vote to finalize the new order, according to Bakersfield.com. The full DNC must then approve the calendar in August before it becomes official.
Iowa and New Hampshire Lose Their Historic Grip
For roughly half a century, Iowa and New Hampshire went first in every presidential primary season. That tradition shaped who won nominations and, often, who became president. Democrats are now cutting both states from the top of the line, AP News reports. The move is one of the biggest shakeups to the nominating process in modern party history.
Republicans are not making the same change. The GOP is expected to keep Iowa at the front of its 2028 calendar, according to Yahoo News. That means the two parties will run on separate schedules for the first time, giving the early states very different levels of national attention.
South Carolina and Nevada Rise as Key Diversity Tests
South Carolina and Nevada are the frontrunners to go first for Democrats. Both states have large Black and Latino populations. Democrats say these voters are central to the party's coalition and deserve more say in who gets the nomination, according to Click On Detroit.
South Carolina in particular is seen as a key test for candidates' support among Black voters. In 2020, Joe Biden's landslide win there revived his struggling campaign. Democrats believe leading with South Carolina gives Black voters a louder voice from the very start of the race, according to Local 10.
DNC Rules Committee Vote Triggers August Approval Process
Friday's vote by the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is the first official step. The committee will recommend which states go first and in what order. But the decision is not final yet. The full Democratic National Committee must vote to approve the calendar at its August meeting, according to News4Jax.
The Rules and Bylaws Committee has been working on this overhaul for years. The effort picked up steam after 2020, when the party faced loud criticism for letting two predominantly white states — Iowa and New Hampshire — hold so much power over who wins the nomination, according to Goshen News.
Why Democrats Say a More Diverse Calendar Matters
Party leaders argue the old calendar did not reflect who Democrats actually are. Iowa is about 90% white. New Hampshire is similarly homogeneous. Meanwhile, Black voters make up a huge share of the Democratic base and have long driven general election results in key states, according to Daily Advance.
By moving South Carolina and Nevada to the front, Democrats want candidates to speak directly to Black and Latino voters from day one of the race. Supporters say it will produce a nominee better suited to win a general election. Critics warn it could create new regional imbalances. The August vote will show how much support the plan truly has inside the party, according to KTBS.
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