{"id":2645467,"date":"2026-08-15T15:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T19:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dnc-gives-south-carolina-the-first-spot-in-2028-primary-schedule\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T15:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T19:19:17","slug":"dnc-gives-south-carolina-the-first-spot-in-2028-primary-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dnc-gives-south-carolina-the-first-spot-in-2028-primary-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"DNC gives South Carolina the first spot in 2028 primary schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdnc-gives-south-carolina-the-first-spot-in-2028-primary-schedule%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645467&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Democratic National Committee has approved the 2028 presidential nominating schedule, making South Carolina the first state to hold its primary, ahead of traditional early states like iowa and New Hampshire. South Carolina&#8217;s primary is scheduled for January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia on subsequent dates. This new calendar aims to create a more representative nominating process, emphasizing diversity and broad support across different regions and communities.<\/p>\n<p>The decision was confirmed by the DNC during a meeting in Texas, with DNC Chairman Ken Martin praising the new schedule for strengthening the party&#8217;s candidate selection and encouraging members to promote this change. Although there are concerns about potential disadvantages for progressive candidates or effects on states like Iowa and New Hampshire, some DNC members believe the revised calendar allows for a competitive and inclusive primary season that reflects the changing demographics of the party.<\/p>\n<p>South Carolina&#8217;s elevation is viewed as a strategic move to prioritize Black voters, who played a significant role in Joe Biden\u2019s 2020 victory, as well as Latino and Native American populations in Nevada and New Mexico. While New Hampshire maintains its legal obligation to vote first, the DNC has imposed penalties on states that attempt to jump the schedule. Some members, including Rita Hart from Iowa, express disappointment, arguing the new calendar excludes thier states but also acknowledge the potential for creating new traditions and diverse campaign moments across multiple states.<\/p>\n<p>the new primary calendar encourages a more comprehensive and fair nomination process, emphasizing the importance of earning support from a wide array of communities and demographics, with the ultimate goal of selecting a strong candidate capable of winning back the White House in 2028.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-national-committee\/\">Democratic National Committee<\/a> approved its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11676\">2028<\/a> presidential nominating schedule, once again prioritizing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"524\">South Carolina<\/a> as the first-in-the-nation primary over Iowa and New Hampshire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina is set to hold its primary on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on Feb. 1, 2028, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, 2028, New Mexico on Feb. 15, 2028, Michigan on Feb. 22, 2028, and Virginia on Feb. 29, 2028.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4685985\/democratic-national-committee-first-2028-presidential-primary-south-carolina\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DNC approves 2028 primary schedule, gives South Carolina the first spot<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4686656\/aoc-marco-rubio-2028-president-polymarket-odds\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>AOC overtakes Rubio in 2028 presidential Polymarket odds<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4683437\/nancy-pelosi-biden-public-cognitive-tests-aoc-newsom-praise\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pelosi says she urged Biden to publicize cognitive tests, praises AOC and Newsom<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DNC\u2019s influential Rules and Bylaws Committee selected South Carolina as the first state to vote in the 2028 presidential primary process during a preliminary vote last month. During its summer gathering in Austin, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"253\">Texas<\/a>, this week, the full DNC membership affirmed that vote on Saturday in a voice vote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs a result of this calendar, we have a stronger, more representative path to selecting our nominee,\u201d DNC Chairman Ken Martin said on Saturday, touting the work of the Rules and Bylaws Committee. \u201cIt will battle-test our nominee. It will require them to earn support from every corner of this coalition. It will make them a better candidate, and it will put them in the strongest possible position-not just to win a primary, but to win back the White House in 2028.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin also urged DNC members to not just support the new calendar but to sell it to their fellow Democrats in their home states.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m asking you to enthusiastically support this, and then when you leave here, to go back to your states and remind folks that you just made history and that this party just made history,\u201d said Martin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uncertainty has flared over whether the nominating schedule, which now includes Virginia and New Mexico among the states to hold contests before Super Tuesday, could disadvantage a progressive presidential candidate, although some DNC members dismissed the allegations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI actually think that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a> is in a moment of generational shift too, not just age, but just new faces and the kind of new standard bearers of the party, and I think that this calendar is pretty rigorous,\u201d John McCarthy, a New Jersey DNC member, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cEveryone\u2019s going to be able to compete. These are affordable markets. They\u2019re places you can go and get around. So I think that we will have a very big primary field in 2028, and I think that that\u2019s a really good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-hampshire\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"572\">New Hampshire<\/a> is bound by state law to hold its primary first, but the DNC strengthened penalties against states that jump the primary lineup by stripping them of 100% of delegates and imposing a $270,000\u00a0fine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStates will have to really sit back and think through what that means if they were to try something,\u201d said McCarthy. \u201cBut hopefully we can get to a place where we\u2019re all rowing in the same direction on that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the Saturday general session meeting, Donna Soucy, a New Hampshire DNC member, defended the Granite State\u2019s ability to evaluate presidential candidates despite being stripped of its former first-place status.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNew Hampshire has never claimed to be a perfect reflection of this country. No state is,\u201d said Souzy. \u201cNew Hampshire has proven, however, time and time again that we are suited, well-suited, to run a rigorous, efficient, and fair election like no other state.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Rita Hart, Iowa state party chair and DNC member, publicly stated she opposed the calendar and that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\">Iowa<\/a> is not happy with the calendar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnfortunately, this calendar fundamentally misses the mark,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a product of broken promises and excludes huge swaths of the country and the voters that Democrats need to win the kind of majorities it takes to restore democratic principles and reject this misguided and corrupt Trump administration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former DNC chairman Jaime Harrison thanked Iowa and New Hampshire for their past leadership of presidential seasons but pushed for a new path for the party.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToday, we\u2019re going to welcome new voices and new communities into that early conversation,\u201d said Harrison, a Palmetto State native. \u201cNevada, New Mexico, Michigan, Virginia, alongside South Carolina, New Hampshire. These states will create traditions of their own. There will be new gathering places, new campaign moments we cannot yet even imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several younger candidates of color have become the biggest stars in the party, including New York Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a>, Michigan Senate nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a>, and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"282\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY), all of whom have pushed the party leftward on several issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elevating South Carolina to the first-in-the-nation status is widely seen as a move to prioritize black voters, the Democrats\u2019 most loyal voting bloc. Black voters in the Palmetto State boosted former President Joe Biden\u2019s struggling campaign in 2020, eventually helping him to capture the nomination. After the Supreme Court\u2019s <em>Louisiana v. Callais<\/em> decision, which weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and subsequently led Republicans in Southern states to create new congressional maps, DNC members were pushed to elevate an early state with a significant black population.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevada and New Mexico are also states with sizable Latino and Native populations that Democrats are hoping to woo back to the party after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> made inroads with the voting blocs in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOther than probably 1988 when Jesse Jackson ran, I think whoever wins the black vote in the primary tends to be our party\u2019s nominee,\u201d said McCarthy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4686400\/dnc-2028-primary-calendar-ken-martin-leadership-ice-resolutions-committee\/\">DNC CLOSES RANKS AROUND KEN MARTIN AS PARTY WEIGHS OFFICIAL STANCE ON ISRAEL AND ICE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also claimed the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/diversity\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4132\">diversity<\/a> of early states means many communities \u201cwill all get to have kind of their key moments throughout this process and make sure that candidates know how to speak to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin added, \u201cOur 2028 nominee, whoever they are, will have to earn the support across the full breadth of America, every region, every demographic, every generation, every economic station in life, no shortcuts, no coronation. You want to lead this party? You go earn it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DNC sets 2028 primary, with South Carolina first<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2645468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26225695616964.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83135,39480,83136,84230,41960],"class_list":["post-2645467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2028-primary","tag-democratic-national-committee","tag-election-calendar-2","tag-political-scheduling","tag-south-carolina"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26225695616964.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645467"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645471,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645467\/revisions\/2645471"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}