US Democrats finalise major shakeup to 2028 presidential primary calendar | US Midterm Elections 2026 News

Democrats Approve Major Changes to 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has made significant changes to its presidential primary calendar for the 2028 election cycle in an effort to reclaim the White House. During a meeting on Saturday in Austin, party officials voted to reorganize the sequence of states participating in the nomination process.

South Carolina will serve as the first official nominating contest, scheduled for January 22, 2028. Following South Carolina, Nevada will hold its primary on February 1, and New Hampshire will follow on February 8. The early voting lineup will conclude with New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia later in February.

This new calendar reflects a shift that began during the 2024 election cycle when the national Democratic Party positioned South Carolina at the forefront of its primary events. The changes aim to create a more competitive slate of states that better reflects the party’s diverse electorate, fostering greater representation of its key constituencies.

However, the move has stirred controversy. In 2024, New Hampshire officials defied party leadership by conducting a state-run primary ahead of South Carolina, citing a state law that mandates being first in the nation. Iowa, traditionally the first state to hold caucuses, has also expressed concerns about being relegated in the lineup, warning that diminished attention to rural voters could alienate those who often feel overlooked in national politics.

Proponents of the revised calendar assert that it will more accurately represent the demographics of the United States. South Carolina, for example, has a significant Black population, comprising approximately 25% of its residents, according to census data. Similarly, Nevada and New Mexico have substantial Latino or Hispanic communities, with 31% and 49% of their populations identifying as such, respectively.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin highlighted these changes on social media, emphasizing their alignment with the nation’s demographic shifts. “These states reflect the diversity of America and will help ensure our nominee is best positioned to take back the White House in 2028,” Martin stated.

The debate over the primary calendar continues to raise questions regarding its impact on tensions within the party between progressive and moderate factions. Michigan, which has now received a more prominent position in the primary schedule, recently selected progressive Abdul El-Sayed as its Senate nominee, adding to speculation about a potential shift in influence among different ideological groups within the party.

Despite changes favoring Michigan and other states, areas that have previously dominated the primary process, such as South Carolina, have demonstrated distinct political leanings. South Carolina’s electorate favored Joe Biden during the 2020 primaries over more progressive candidates, indicating that regional dynamics may still play a critical role in shaping the election outcomes.

The revised schedule for the Democratic primaries is as follows: