Democratic National Committee takes steps towards 2028 presidential calendar

Nevada and South Carolina are among states making cases to be first in line.

The Democratic Party is set to take a key step this week towards determining its calendar for the first set of presidential nominating primaries and caucuses in the 2028 presidential election.

It’s a decision that will determine which voters get the earliest opportunities to shape the race and one that will test whether candidates are able to rebuild the coalitions that Democrats struggled to reach during the 2024 election.

The order of the primaries can also help spur or stymie presidential candidates as they try to prove they’re the right choice to lead the ticket, as results and enthusiasm in the early states help indicate which candidates have momentum and are striking a chord with voters.

Over the course of broader meetings on Thursday and Friday, the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will debate and potentially vote on which of the 12 states that have applied to run contests in the “early window” of 2028 should be allowed to go then, as well as what order they would go in. The order, if the committee approves it, will have to be fully approved by the full DNC at its planned summer meeting in August.

Debates surrounding what states should go first also tie into ongoing debates within the party over racial representation, reaching working-class voters and other groups the Democrats did not feel they reached successfully in 2024, and how to remain competitive with a Republican Party that is flush with cash.

Among the states making cases for being first in line are Nevada and South Carolina. Last week, for instance, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ campaign arm argued that Nevada’s large Latino population would ensure candidates have a message that resonates across battleground states.

South Carolina Democrats, meanwhile, have argued that their state has the key constituency of Black, working-class, and rural voters that Democrats will need to court if they want to win in 2028.

The calendar could spark further party intrigue down the line if some state parties don’t follow the DNC’s designated order.

The Rules and Bylaws Committee approved last month potential penalties for states that hold contests outside of the order. State parties, however, can alleviate penalties if they demonstrate they tried to stay in compliance and were dealing with state laws or other challenges.

Presidential candidates themselves could be barred from participating in DNC-approved debates or getting any benefit from the votes in those states. That proposal will al