South Carolina to Lead Democratic Presidential Primary Calendar Again in 2028
For the second consecutive presidential election cycle, South Carolina will lead the Democratic Party's nominating calendar in 2028. This decision, made by the Democratic National Committee, aims to prioritize states that better reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the…
Denver, CO, August 15, 2026 —
The Democratic Party has once again selected South Carolina to kick off its presidential nominating contests, with the state set to hold the first primary on January 22, 2028. This marks the second consecutive election cycle where South Carolina has been granted the pivotal opening position in the Democratic calendar.
The decision, confirmed by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the early states in the primary process better represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States. Historically, states like Iowa and New Hampshire, which have often led the calendar, are predominantly white.
Following South Carolina’s primary, the nominating calendar will proceed with Nevada on February 1, 2028, and then New Hampshire. The DNC has indicated that this sequencing is designed to foster a more representative early engagement with diverse voter populations.
According to a statement from the DNC, the aim of this revised calendar is to develop a nominee who is “battle-tested” and possesses experience engaging with a broad spectrum of voters. This approach is intended to better prepare candidates for the general election and the challenges of winning the presidency by ensuring they have navigated campaigns in electorally diverse environments from the outset.
Story summarized from the original created by Justin Boggs on www.denver7.com, see more information here.
