US Democrats finalise major shakeup to 2028 presidential primary calendar

What the report says

Democratic National Committee members have approved a revised 2028 presidential primary calendar at a meeting in Austin, Texas, giving South Carolina the first official nominating contest and moving Iowa out of the opening slot. The change was adopted as Democrats look toward the next presidential race and seek a calendar they say better reflects the party’s coalition and the country’s diversity.

Under the new order, South Carolina’s primary is set for January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia through February. The lineup formalizes an approach the party used in the 2024 cycle, when South Carolina was also placed first. Party chair Ken Martin said the states chosen reflect demographic shifts and would help produce a nominee better positioned for the general election, according to the report.

The move has long been controversial. New Hampshire has resisted efforts to give up its traditional early role, while Iowa Democrats have argued that losing prominence could alienate rural voters. Supporters of the revised calendar say the new early states include larger Black, Latino and Hispanic populations and therefore offer a more representative start to the nomination process.

The calendar change could also shape the party’s internal balance between progressive and more moderate factions. Al Jazeera reported that earlier contests in states such as Michigan or South Carolina may influence which wing gains momentum, though the ultimate effect remains uncertain.