South Carolina Chosen as the Initial State for 2028 Dem Primaries

WHO:

CNN - South Carolina state party chair Christale Spain and DNC member Carol Fowler led the push for South Carolina.

CNN - High-profile allies included former DNC chair and South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison and US Rep. Jim Clyburn.

CNN - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and its Rules and Bylaws panel were involved in the decision-making process.

WHAT:

NPR - South Carolina's primary is scheduled to be held on January 22, 2028.

NPR - The DNC's proposed primary calendar will be presented to the full DNC for a vote in August.

NPR - Six states will be permitted to hold primaries before Super Tuesday on March 7, 2028.

CNN - The DNC's Rules and Bylaws panel's decision to keep South Carolina as the first primary state was influenced by the need to reaffirm the party's commitment to Black voters amid concerns over their electoral power being weakened.

NBC News - The DNC considered 12 states that applied for early window spots for the 2028 primaries, indicating a competitive selection process.

NBC News - The DNC's Rules and Bylaws panel voted to keep South Carolina as the first primary state, indicating a shift from two heavily white states to those with more diverse populations.

CNN - The DNC Rules and Bylaws panel voted to keep South Carolina as the first 2028 Democratic primary, choosing it over Nevada after a debate that included discussions on balancing outreach to Black and Latino voters.

NBC News - The DNC's rules committee is expected to add two more states to the early primary lineup, increasing the total number of early primary states to five.

NBC News - The Democratic National Committee's rules committee voted to allow two additional states to hold early primaries, bringing the total number of early primary states to five.

CNN - The DNC considered 12 states that applied for early window spots for the 2028 primaries.

CNN - South Carolina was recommended to hold the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028.

CNN - The DNC panel also voted to allow Nevada, Michigan, and New Hampshire to hold early primaries.

CNN - The full DNC will consider the proposed slate at its August meeting.

WHERE:

CNN - South Carolina is designated as the first state for the Democratic presidential primary.

CNN - The decision was made by the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws panel.

WHEN:

CNN - The full DNC will meet in August to consider the proposed primary slate.

WHY:

NPR - The decision to prioritize South Carolina is part of a strategy to reaffirm the party's commitment to Black voters, who make up nearly one in four registered voters in the state.

NBC News - The debate over which state should go first was influenced by the need to balance outreach to Black voters, who are considered the party's most loyal members, while also addressing concerns about Latino voter support that declined in the previous election cycle.

CNN - The debate over which state should go first was influenced by the need to acknowledge Black voters, who are considered the party's most loyal members, while also addressing concerns about Latino voter support that declined in the previous election cycle.

CNN - The decision to keep South Carolina first was influenced by the need to acknowledge Black voters, who are a significant part of the Democratic base.

CNN - South Carolina's allies argued for reaffirming commitment to Black voters amid concerns over their electoral power being weakened by redistricting and a Supreme Court decision affecting the Voting Rights Act.

CNN - Nevada's supporters highlighted the state's diverse electorate and its importance as a battleground for future presidential candidates.

HOW:

CNN - The debate over which state should go first included discussions that extended past midnight, highlighting the contentious nature of the decision-making process.

CNN - The decision followed months of lobbying by party leaders and allies from various states, including Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Iowa, for the first-in-the-nation spot.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 05:50 UTC)

The Democratic National Committee is set to present its proposed primary calendar for a vote in August, which includes a significant focus on South Carolina. The state is scheduled to hold its primary on January 22, 2028, as part of a strategy to reaffirm the party's commitment to Black voters, who represent nearly one in four registered voters there. Additionally, six states will be allowed to hold their primaries before Super Tuesday on March 7, 2028.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 04:01 UTC)

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws panel has decided to keep South Carolina as the first primary state, a move aimed at reaffirming the party's commitment to Black voters amid concerns about their electoral power. In a competitive selection process, the DNC considered twelve states that applied for early window spots for the 2028 primaries. This decision reflects the ongoing debate about balancing outreach to Black voters, who are seen as the party's most loyal supporters, while also addressing the decline in Latino voter support from the previous election cycle.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 22:19 UTC)

The DNC's Rules and Bylaws panel has voted to keep South Carolina as the first primary state, marking a shift towards more diverse populations in the early voting process. This decision came after a lengthy debate that extended past midnight, showcasing the contentious nature of the discussions involved. The move signifies a significant change from the traditional focus on two heavily white states in the primary lineup.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 21:19 UTC)

The DNC Rules and Bylaws panel has voted to keep South Carolina as the first Democratic primary for 2028, prioritizing it over Nevada after discussions focused on outreach to Black and Latino voters. Additionally, the DNC's rules committee is expected to add two more states to the early primary lineup, bringing the total to five. This decision comes amid a debate that highlighted the importance of recognizing Black voters, who are seen as the party's most loyal supporters, while also addressing the decline in Latino voter support from the previous election cycle.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 19:27 UTC)

The Democratic National Committee's rules committee has voted to allow two additional states to hold early primaries, increasing the total number of early primary states to five. This decision comes after the DNC reviewed applications from twelve states that sought early window spots for the 2028 primaries. The move is part of the ongoing preparations for the upcoming election cycle.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 18:24 UTC)

South Carolina has been recommended to hold the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028, a decision influenced by the need to acknowledge the significant role of Black voters in the Democratic base. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws panel, led by South Carolina state party chair Christale Spain and DNC member Carol Fowler, also voted to allow Nevada, Michigan, and New Hampshire to hold early primaries, with the full DNC set to consider this proposed slate at its meeting in August. This decision comes after months of lobbying from party leaders and allies across several states, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a commitment to Black voters amid concerns about their electoral power.