The Democratic National Committee has approved a new presidential primary calendar for 2028, making South Carolina the leadoff state on January 22, 2028. This change is intended to give candidates a better chance of winning the White House by testing their appeal to diverse voter groups early on.
Early States
Nevada will follow South Carolina on February 1, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia rounding out the early states throughout February. This new lineup is designed to force candidates to prove themselves in states with significant Black, Latino, and union voter populations.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin emphasized that to win the general election, candidates must be “battle-tested” in front of various communities across the country. Party leaders believe this new calendar will help Democrats regain the White House after President Donald Trump’s second term.
Impact on Candidates
The revised calendar will require candidates to engage with a broader range of voters, including Black voters in the South and Latino voters in the West. As party strategist Karen Finney noted, candidates must demonstrate their ability to connect with different communities, from rural voters to union members.
Former presidential candidate Howard Dean, a former Vermont governor, welcomed the change, saying the new states better represent the country’s diversity. Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, expressed concerns that bypassing Iowa could sideline important voter voices and give Republicans an edge.
Unions and Voter Engagement
The new calendar also highlights the importance of unions, with states like Nevada, Michigan, and Virginia having significant union presence. Campaigns will likely seek to engage with union members and court their support in the early states.
The revised calendar may also lead to more efficient campaigning, with candidates able to visit multiple states in a shorter period. This could allow them to reach more voters and build momentum earlier in the process.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
