Democrats put South Carolina first for 2028, bump Iowa again
What's new: Nevada votes Feb. 1, while New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia follow later in February.
Democrats approved a 2028 presidential primary calendar on Saturday that keeps South Carolina as the first voting state and again pushes Iowa out of the opening slot. Under the plan endorsed by the Democratic National Committee in Texas, South Carolina votes on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on Feb. 1. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia complete the early-state lineup later in February. Party leaders argue the order forces candidates to compete early for Black voters, Latino voters and union members, rather than relying on the largely white electorates that long dominated the opening contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.