The Democratic National Committee has approved a new primary calendar for the 2028 presidential election, making South Carolina the leadoff state on January 22, 2028. This change is intended to give more weight to states with significant Black and Latino populations, as well as union members.

Early States

The new calendar has Nevada following South Carolina on February 1, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia rounding out the early states throughout February. This lineup is designed to test candidates’ ability to appeal to diverse groups of voters.

According to DNC Chairman Ken Martin, the new calendar will require candidates to be “battle-tested” in front of various communities across the country. Party strategist Karen Finney added that candidates must be able to talk to Black voters and rural voters in the South, as well as address issues relevant to Western states, such as ranching and mining.

Impact on Candidates

The new calendar may favor candidates who can build a broad coalition of supporters, including union members and voters in key states like South Carolina and Nevada. However, it may also make it more challenging for lesser-known candidates to gain traction, as they will need to campaign in multiple states with diverse voter bases.

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean, who previously served as national party chairman, praised the new calendar, saying that the included states “look more like the country” as a whole. Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, expressed concerns that bypassing Iowa in the early going would sideline important voter voices and give a political edge to Republicans.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.