The Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Rules and Bylaws panel voted on Friday, July 24, 2026, to keep South Carolina as the first state to hold a Democratic presidential primary in 2028. This decision came after intense lobbying from South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa, all vying for the coveted lead-off position in the nominating calendar.

The panel's choice to prioritize South Carolina over Nevada is seen as a move to maintain a key role for Black voters, a crucial part of the Democratic base. The contest between South Carolina and Nevada reflected broader strategic considerations: rewarding long-standing Black Democratic voters versus expanding outreach to Latino voters, a demographic where Republicans made significant gains in the 2024 election.

In addition to South Carolina's lead-off status, the panel approved early primary contests for Nevada, New Hampshire, Michigan, Virginia, and New Mexico, allowing these states to hold their primaries before the rest of the country begins nominating contests ahead of Super Tuesday.

National Democrats have criticized Iowa and New Hampshire for being unrepresentative of the party due to their largely white populations and lack of major urban centers, despite Iowa's caucuses leading the calendar for 50 years until 2024. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee announced earlier in 2026 that it would keep Iowa and New Hampshire as the lead-off contests in their 2028 nominating schedule.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez currently leads the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination race with 22% of primary voter support, underscoring the evolving dynamics within the party.

Longtime New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley expressed his views following the vote, while Nevada Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno also issued a statement emphasizing her state's position.

Political commentator Todd Piro highlighted the significance of New Hampshire in presidential nominations and noted the absence of a clear Democratic consensus on the calendar.

Sources