Democrats could take initial vote on 2028 presidential primary calendar this week

The Democratic Party is poised to take an initial vote this week on the sequence of states for its 2028 presidential primary calendar. While the Rules and Bylaws Committee could make a determination as early as Friday, the ultimate decision rests with the full Democratic National Committee, which is scheduled to convene in August.

This process follows the party's overhaul after the disarray of the 2020 Iowa caucuses. Democrats now prioritize a calendar that reflects greater diversity, moving away from the traditional early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which are predominantly white. For the 2024 cycle, South Carolina, a state with a significant Black population, was chosen to lead the primaries, a move championed by President Joe Biden and supported by key figures like Rep. Jim Clyburn.

South Carolina's Democratic leaders are actively campaigning for the state to retain its opening position in 2028. They argue that the state's demographic makeup, with approximately 25% Black and 9% Hispanic residents according to Census Bureau data, offers a more representative initial test for candidates seeking to build broad coalitions. Their lobbying efforts have garnered support from Democratic Party chairs across five Southern states, emphasizing South Carolina's role in reflecting the initial playing field for presidential hopefuls.