Democrats Set to Revamp 2028 Presidential Primary Schedule

WHO:

ABC News - Democratic National Committee (DNC), Rules and Bylaws Committee, Nevada Democratic Party, South Carolina Democrats, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Rep. Steven Horsford, Christale Spain (chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party), Jaime Harrison (former DNC Chair), Ray Buckley (New Hampshire Democratic Party chair), Rita Hart (Iowa Democratic Party chair).

WHAT:

ABC News - The DNC is set to determine its calendar for the first set of presidential nominating primaries and caucuses for the 2028 presidential election.

ABC News - The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee will debate and potentially vote on which of the 12 states that have applied for early contests should be allowed to go first.

CNN - The committee is considering recommending up to five states for its early primary window.

CNN - Nevada and South Carolina are the leading contenders for the top slots in the primary calendar.

CNN - The DNC voted to make South Carolina the first primary state during the 2024 cycle at the request of Biden.

WHERE:

ABC News - The meetings are taking place in Washington, DC.

CNN - Nevada and South Carolina are the states being considered for the early primary slots.

WHEN:

ABC News - The DNC's full meeting to approve the calendar is planned for August.

CNN - The committee will recommend a slate to the full DNC to consider as soon as next month.

WHY:

ABC News - The order of the primaries can influence candidates' momentum and voter engagement.

ABC News - The decision is tied to ongoing debates within the party over racial representation and reaching working-class voters.

CNN - Advocates for South Carolina argue that maintaining its position underscores the importance of voting rights for the Black community.

HOW:

ABC News - The Rules and Bylaws Committee approved potential penalties for states that hold contests outside of the designated order.

CNN - States have been lobbying for prime spots on the calendar, with Nevada being particularly aggressive in its campaigning.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 15:39 UTC)

The Democratic National Committee is meeting in Washington, DC, to determine the calendar for the first set of presidential nominating primaries and caucuses for the 2028 election. The Rules and Bylaws Committee is debating which of the twelve states that have applied for early contests should be prioritized, with Nevada and South Carolina emerging as the leading contenders. A full DNC meeting to approve the calendar is planned for August, as the order of the primaries is crucial for influencing candidates' momentum and voter engagement.