The race to shape the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential primary calendar is officially underway, and if recent meetings are any indication, the process promises to be as contentious and consequential as ever. At a series of high-profile gatherings in Minneapolis this week, the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Rules and Bylaws Committee kicked off deliberations that could upend decades of tradition—and alter the fortunes of states, candidates, and entire voting blocs.
“Let me say this for everybody to hear: The presidential calendar process starts today,” declared DNC Chair Ken Martin at the committee’s first general session since he assumed leadership, according to reporting from NBC News. Martin emphasized that the process would be rigorous, effective, and fair, with a series of meetings planned throughout the fall, winter, and into spring 2026 to hammer out the details. “We need this process to give us the strongest possible candidate — a candidate that’s battle-tested to win and ready to lead America forward,” he said.
While the 2028 nominating calendar’s early states remain undecided, the debate is already generating intense interest from party leaders and state officials. The stakes are high: the order in which states vote can shape the field of candidates, influence campaign strategies, and even provide a critical economic boost to the states involved. As The Associated Press notes, “the order of each party’s state-by-state presidential nomination process has major implications for the economies of the states involved, the candidates and ultimately the nation.”
In 2024, Democrats broke with tradition by awarding South Carolina the coveted first-in-the-nation contest, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia, and Michigan. This move was a nod to the party’s increasingly diverse coalition, particularly Black voters, who have become a cornerstone of Democratic electoral success. But the decision wasn’t without controversy: both New Hampshire and Georgia’s Republican secretaries of state said they couldn’t comply with the DNC’s schedule due to state laws and the Republican calendar, leading to confusion and some states bucking the party line.
Now, as the DNC prepares to revisit the calendar ahead of 2028, a new set of leaders is at the helm—and they’re not shy about considering big changes. Martin, who replaced former Chair Jaime Harrison earlier this year, presides over a Rules and Bylaws Committee that is two-thirds new, with 32 of its 49 members just beginning their terms. “We’re not as tied to the way we’ve always done things,” said DNC Vice Chair Shasti Conrad, who also chairs the Washington state Democratic Party. “A priority for me is that there are large communities of color in those states.”
That sentiment is echoed in private and public conversations among party officials. As Democrats gathered in Martin’s home state of Minnesota for their summer meeting, some questioned whether South Carolina—a reliably Republican state—should retain its top spot. North Carolina and Georgia, both considered swing states in general elections, have emerged as early favorites if a change is made. Martin himself acknowledged that South Carolina could lose its position, but he stressed the importance of ensuring that a state with a large Black population features prominently in the process. “Clearly, the most reliable constituency of the Democratic Party are Black voters, and they will have a prominent role in the selection of our nominee. And whether it’s South Carolina or some other states, rest assured that making sure that there’s a state in the mix that actually will battle test your nominee with African American voters is really critical to making sure we can win in November,” Martin told AP.
The jockeying for position is already fierce. Leaders from several states hoping to claim an opening slot have begun their campaigns, both behind closed doors and in the public eye. Nevada Democrats, for example, released a memo this week arguing that their state should win the top spot in 2028 if the party “is serious about winning back working-class voters.” Hilary Barrett, executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party, wrote, “Given the challenges we are facing to rebuild our party brand, we cannot afford to have overwhelmingly college-educated, white, or less competitive states kick off the process of selecting our party’s nominee.”
Meanwhile, Iowa Democrats are considering a bold move to reclaim their former glory. Having lost their first-in-the-nation status in 2024, they’ve begun surveying caucusgoers about whether the state should go “rogue” and hold its caucuses first in 2028, even if not sanctioned by the DNC. The survey, launched the week of August 18, also asks whether Iowa should resume in-person caucuses, a tradition paused in 2024 in favor of mail-in preference cards to address accessibility concerns.
But Iowa’s influence may be waning. In June, Scott Brennan, the state’s longtime representative on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, lost his seat, while New Hampshire gained a second seat. Yet, New Hampshire itself is a wild card: state law requires it to hold the nation’s first primary, regardless of the DNC’s wishes. In 2024, New Hampshire defied the DNC’s calendar, and party leaders there have signaled they’re willing to do so again. “Everyone has the opportunity to make their case,” said Ray Buckley, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair. “New states, interesting states, will make their case. And I have faith that the process will be fair.”
South Carolina, for its part, isn’t giving up the fight. Former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, a South Carolina native, pledged to “fight like hell” to keep his state first. “If you take a look at every presidential primary we’ve had over the last 20 years, South Carolina has been a better predictor than Nevada, Iowa or New Hampshire in terms of picking the eventual nominee,” Harrison argued. “And that is because our people are not ideological. ... No, a majority of Black voters are not conservative or progressive. They’re pragmatic.” He added, “I think it’s a big slap in the face if you say that you don’t even give South Carolina an opportunity to be first in the nation at least one time in an open primary process, right?”
As the debate rages, the DNC is also considering amendments to make the party more inclusive. Proposals discussed this week include increasing the number of members selected by Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ, and Native American caucuses, requiring DNC staff and officers to remain neutral in primary races, and expanding the oversight abilities of the budget committee.
The next major milestone comes in September, when the Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet again to formalize the process for states to submit applications for early nominating contests in 2028. According to committee co-chair Minyon Moore, the group will “discuss and adopt a resolution formalizing a process for states to submit applications to move in the (early) window in 2028.” Jim Roosevelt, the other co-chair, noted that the process for applying to be in the early window “is one we adopted several cycles ago,” and that state parties will have the opportunity to make their case for inclusion.
With so many variables in play—state laws, party rules, shifting demographics, and the ever-present tug-of-war between tradition and innovation—the battle for the first-in-the-nation status is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched stories of the 2028 election cycle. One thing’s for sure: no state is guaranteed a spot, and the outcome will likely reverberate far beyond the party’s base.
The Democratic Party’s search for a fair, representative, and strategic nominating calendar is just beginning, but the groundwork laid this week ensures that the coming months will be anything but dull.
