US 2028 election: South Carolina to kick off Democratic primaries

The Democratic Party has decided to break with tradition for the 2028 presidential election cycle, selecting South Carolina to host the first primary. This move, announced Saturday, aims to ensure the early contests better represent the party's diverse electorate, moving away from the long-standing openers, Iowa and New Hampshire. Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, stated the new calendar "truly represents our party and our values, and will help us win back the White House in 2028." South Carolina, with its significant African American population, will vote on January 22, 2028. It will be followed by Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. The party asserts this schedule will test candidates against a broader range of voters in key presidential states. South Carolina's importance was highlighted in Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, leading him to advocate for its early primary status in 2024. However, New Hampshire, bound by state law to hold the nation's first primary, defied the party's calendar that year. To prevent future defiance, the DNC voted to impose stricter penalties on states that deviate from the chosen schedule. It remains uncertain if New Hampshire will comply, and Iowa's legal mandate to hold its caucuses first also creates ambiguity.

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a calendar that truly represents our party and our values, and will help us win back the White House in 2028.