{"id":2646346,"date":"2026-08-18T07:38:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T11:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-democrats-in-wait-and-see-mode-to-possible-2028-calendar-protest\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T07:41:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T11:41:55","slug":"iowa-democrats-in-wait-and-see-mode-to-possible-2028-calendar-protest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-democrats-in-wait-and-see-mode-to-possible-2028-calendar-protest\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa Democrats in &#8216;wait and see&#8217; mode to possible 2028 calendar protest"},"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\">24<\/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%2Fiowa-democrats-in-wait-and-see-mode-to-possible-2028-calendar-protest%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=2646346&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>Iowa Democrats are cautious following the democratic National Committee&#8217;s decision to demote their conventional first-in-the-nation caucus for the 2028 primary calendar, instead prioritizing South Carolina as the first contest. Despite this change, many Iowa Democrats hope that their recent close races for governor, Senate, and House seats will energize efforts to challenge the DNC&#8217;s calendar through protests, especially since the outcome of the November 3 midterm elections will influence their prospects. Some believe early caucuses could help demonstrate Iowa&#8217;s relevance and oppose the DNC\u2019s decision, which they criticize as driven by poor leadership and resource limitations, notably the DNC&#8217;s significant debt and weaker fundraising compared to the Republican National Committee. Iowa officials and strategists argue that holding early caucuses independently could send a message to the DNC and boost local momentum. Critics, including party officials like Rita Hart, emphasize that excluding Iowa diminishes its influence and media attention, potentially weakening Democratic chances in key upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the DNC has reinforced strict penalties against states or candidates who defy the 2028 calendar, including possible loss of delegates and fines, underscoring the party\u2019s intention to enforce calendar discipline despite resistance from some state parties. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >debate reflects broader tensions<\/a> about delegate allocation, electoral strategy, and the importance of inclusive and representative primaries in shaping the Democratic nomination process.  <\/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\" id=\"h-iowa-democrats-are-keeping-their-powder-dry-after-the-democratic-national-committee-last-weekend-officially-demoted-the-long-time-first-in-the-nation-presidential-nominating-caucus-on-its-2028-primary-election-calendar-and-promoted-south-carolina-to-be-its-first-contest-instead\">Iowa Democrats are keeping their powder dry after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-national-committee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3400\">Democratic National Committee<\/a> last weekend demoted the longtime first-in-the-nation presidential nominating caucus on its 2028 primary election calendar and elevated <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"524\">South Carolina <\/a>to be its first contest instead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now.<\/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\/4690514\/iowa-democrats-possible-2028-calendar-protest\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iowa strikes back: Democrats in \u2018wait and see\u2019 mode to possible 2028 calendar protest<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4689881\/south-carolina-kamala-harris-2028-strategists-weigh-in-black-voters\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>South Carolina\u2019s move to front of 2028 Democratic primary calendar could benefit Kamala Harris<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4690713\/jon-ossoff-zero-interest-2028-president\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jon Ossoff says he has \u2018zero interest\u2019 in 2028 presidential bid<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-iowa-democrats-are-keeping-their-powder-dry-after-the-democratic-national-committee-last-weekend-officially-demoted-the-long-time-first-in-the-nation-presidential-nominating-caucus-on-its-2028-primary-election-calendar-and-promoted-south-carolina-to-be-its-first-contest-instead-multiple-iowa-democrats-told-the-washington-examiner-they-are-hoping-their-candidates-competing-in-the-state-s-closer-than-expected-governor-senate-and-house-races-will-build-momentum-behind-a-2028-dnc-presidential-primary-calendar-protest-despite-new-steep-penalties\">Multiple Iowa Democrats told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> they hope the state\u2019s closer-than-expected governor, Senate, and House races will catalyze a 2028 DNC presidential primary calendar protest, despite new, steep penalties.<\/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\">The \u201cstrength and viability\u201d of any effort to have Iowa \u201cfight back\u201d against the DNC\u2019s calendar \u201ccoronation\u201d will come down to Nov. 3, the date of the midterm elections, one Iowa Democrat and former elected official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/governor-race-ratings\">Iowa\u2019s governor\u2019s race<\/a>, in addition to those for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\">state\u2019s 1st and 3rd congressional districts<\/a>, are considered toss-ups by the Cook Political Report. The 2nd District and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/senate-race-ratings\">Senate races<\/a> are also considered competitive, though slightly favorable to Republicans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you see IA-01, IA-02, and IA-03 go blue as they did in 2018, as well as the flipping of the open governor and U.S. Senate seats, you\u2019re going to have a renewed vigor for telling the DNC to eff off,\u201d the source told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cIf all those races stay red? It\u2019s the nail in the coffin.\u201d<\/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\">A second Iowa Democrat and former elected official, Charlie Comfort, agreed that there is support for ignoring the DNC\u2019s 2028 calendar and forging ahead with the party\u2019s caucuses when the Iowa Republican Party holds its nominating contest, particularly because \u201cthere are a lot of positive signs on the ground this year that favor Democrats\u201d and the state party does not \u201cwant to lose that momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019d be supportive of it being early regardless of what the DNC says,\u201d Comfort told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cHeck, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-hampshire\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"572\">New Hampshire<\/a> went early in 2024, and they still landed in the early vote window for 2028.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comfort said \u201cholding the caucuses early regardless of what the DNC says would actually help Iowa Democrats as it sends a message to those in Iowa who are weary of the Democrat brand that we will not kowtow the line [or] decision that the DNC thinks is best,\u201d adding that the DNC is \u201ca joke due to current leadership.\u201d<\/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\">Since his election in 2025, DNC Chairman Ken Martin has encountered criticism for his management of the Democrats\u2019 2024 election autopsy and for his lack of fundraising prowess, as the DNC has been repeatedly outraised by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2059\">Republican National Committee<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DNC is more than $2 million in debt, while the RNC has more than $128 million cash on hand, according to campaign financial disclosure documents released last month ending June 30.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIowa can return to swing-state status, but it\u2019s hard to do that when Democrats don\u2019t have the resources to compete,\u201d Comfort said. \u201c2026 should be a blue tsunami, but Chairman Ken Martin\u2019s completely inept leadership won\u2019t let that happen. I ran school board meetings better as my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-francisco-officials-declare-acronyms-racist\/\" title=\"San Francisco Officials Declare Acronyms Racist\">school board president<\/a> than Ken Martin does as DNC chair. The man should resign and let a real leader take over.\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\">Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart did not specifically criticize Martin in Austin, Texas, on Saturday during the DNC\u2019s final meeting regarding the 2028 calendar, but she did criticize the committee\u2019s decision-making process and its results, contending both have become an \u201cunwelcome distraction\u201d from the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m deeply concerned that our party has not learned from past mistakes,\u201d Hart told the DNC. \u201cWe need a Midwest and a truly rural state to be among the first four states if we hope to build sustainable and lasting Democratic majorities that enact real and meaningful change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She added, \u201cThe Republicans will hold their first-in-the-nation caucus in Iowa in 2028, will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to promote their candidates, and will bring tons of national media attention as well. Excluding Iowa from the early calendar, at a time when we\u2019ll have at least three Democratic members of Congress and an opportunity to flip <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-grassley\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"963\">Chuck Grassley<\/a>\u2018s Senate seat in 2028, gives the other side a giant media bullhorn that we abdicate with this calendar.\u201d<\/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\">University of Iowa professor Timothy Hagle underscored that the DNC\u2019s 2028 calendar, which starts with South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nevada\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"736\">Nevada<\/a> on Feb. 1, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-mexico\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"769\">New Mexico<\/a> on Feb. 15, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> on Feb. 22, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"96\">Virginia<\/a> on Feb. 29, remains contingent on states changing their respective, relevant laws.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New Hampshire lawmakers passed a state law in 1975 stipulating that its \u201cpresidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on a date selected by the secretary of state, which is seven days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe DNC has increased the penalties for going rogue,\u201d Hagle also told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe advantages of Iowa Democrats going first would likely outweigh the total loss of delegates. The sticking point might be the fine imposed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic strategist James Carville went further, discouraging Iowa Democrats from going against the DNC\u2019s calendar and describing it as not \u201cthe smartest thing they could do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Iowa caucuses just kind of turned out to be difficult to administer,\u201d Carville told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cNo matter what you do, somebody\u2019s going to say it\u2019s a mistake. \u2018Well, we should have more rural voters. We should have had more diverse voters.\u2019 Woulda, shoulda, coulda. The most important voting bloc in the Democratic Party are black Americans. South Carolina going first recognizes that. I think it was a wise and well-deserved choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2020, the Iowa Democratic Party could not name a winner on caucus night because the mobile app it used to count and report the results did not work for many precinct chairs, nor did their backup telephone lines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday\u2019s vote comes after the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee met in June to reform the penalties for any state or candidate that defies its 2028 calendar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4688641\/trumpworld-karoline-leavitt-replacement-woman\/\"><strong>THE TWO REASONS TRUMPWORLD THINKS LEAVITT\u2019S REPLACEMENT WILL BE A WOMAN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new penalties include increasing the delegates lost for states that hold a primary election or caucus from 50% to 100%, introducing a $270,000 fine for any state that hosts an unsanctioned contest, prohibiting candidates who take part in those contests from earning delegates, prohibiting those candidates from participating in DNC debates, and requiring all candidates to denounce any campaigning on their behalf for those contests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cListen, I love our states and I understand their frustration,\u201d Martin told reporters in July. \u201cEveryone is hot under the collar right now \u2026 [But] this is a calendar this party is actually going to protect. And unlike the past, it\u2019s not going to be a wink and a nod, \u2018We\u2019ll let you do what you want and you can get away with it.\u2019 If they [decide] to do that, they know what the consequences are and we\u2019ve been very clear.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa Democrats await 2028 calendar changes after DNC shift<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2646347,"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\/AP25233624101472.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41461,32923,83136,65434,42464],"class_list":["post-2646346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2028-election","tag-democratic-party","tag-election-calendar-2","tag-iowa-democrats","tag-political-protests"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25233624101472.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646346","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\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646346"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646350,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646346\/revisions\/2646350"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}