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The Democratic National Committee selects South Carolina as the first state to hold its 2028 presidential primary

The Democratic National Committee officially confirmed that South Carolina will be the first state to hold the Democratic presidential primary on January 22, 2028. This strategic move replaces Iowa and New Hampshire as the traditional leadoff states to better reflect the party's diverse voter base. South Carolina is a key location for candidates because of its significant African American population, which makes up more than 60% of the Democratic primary electorate in the state. Experts suggest that a moderate candidate who can connect with religious and affordable living issues will perform well. While potential candidates like Gavin Newsom and Cory Booker have already begun making trips to the market, the party faces an internal ideological tug-of-war between its moderate establishment and progressive wing. DNC chairman Ken Martin stated that the new calendar is the most diverse in the party's history. The schedule includes Nevada and New Mexico to frontload states with large Latino populations, a group that President Trump made significant inroads with during the 2024 election.

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