South Carolina Leads Primary
DNC Committee Recommends South Carolina for First 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary Vote
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The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee has voted to recommend South Carolina as the first state to vote in the 2028 presidential primary, according to NBC News. The move keeps Black voters — a core Democratic constituency — near the front of the nomination process.
The panel also approved early primary slots for Nevada, Michigan, and New Hampshire, with two more states expected to be added. The full DNC will vote on the proposed calendar at its August meeting, CNN reported.
South Carolina Beats Out Nevada and New Hampshire for First Spot
The fight for the first-in-the-nation primary spot was fierce. States including Nevada, South Carolina, and Iowa spent months lobbying the DNC committee, according to CNN. In the end, South Carolina came out on top, continuing the role it took on during the 2024 cycle when President Biden pushed to restructure the primary calendar.
New Hampshire, which held the first primary for decades, has been pushed further down the list. Nevada and Michigan also secured early spots, giving a broader, more diverse set of states a say early in the process, NBC News reported.
Black Voters Keep Their Power in the Primary Calendar
South Carolina's position at the front of the calendar is significant for Black voters. The state's Democratic primary electorate is majority Black. Placing it first means Black voters help set the tone of who wins the party's nomination, CNN reported.
This was a deliberate choice. Democrats under Biden reshaped the 2024 primary calendar specifically to give South Carolina that leading role. The 2028 recommendation signals the party wants to keep that structure in place going forward.
Full DNC Must Still Approve the Slate in August
The Rules and Bylaws Committee is a key DNC panel, but it does not have final say. Its recommendations go to the full DNC for a vote. That vote is scheduled for the party's August meeting, according to NBC News.
The committee is also expected to add two more states to the early primary window before the final slate is set. The full calendar will likely include five early states in total, CNN reported.
Why the Primary Order Matters So Much for 2028
The order of primaries shapes who wins the nomination. Early states get massive media attention and campaign spending. A win in the first state gives a candidate momentum heading into later contests. That is why states compete so hard for an early spot.
With no incumbent president running in 2028, the Democratic field is wide open. The primary calendar will play a bigger role than usual in deciding who emerges as the nominee. South Carolina's first-place slot puts it at the center of that fight, according to CNN.
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