{"id":44499,"date":"2026-08-14T14:26:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T09:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=44499"},"modified":"2026-08-14T14:26:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T09:26:32","slug":"dnc-set-to-finalize-controversial-2028-primary-calendar-elevating-south-carolina-and-nevada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=44499","title":{"rendered":"DNC set to finalize controversial 2028 primary calendar, elevating South Carolina and Nevada"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">The Democratic National Committee is expected to vote on Saturday to approve the new order of states for<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->the 2028 presidential nominating process as progressives and moderates grapple over the party&#8217;s direction in the midterms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In late July, the DNC\u2019s Rules and Bylaws Committee<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.com%2FPolitics%2Fdemocratic-national-committee-set-key-vote-towards-determining%2Fstory%3Fid%3D135000357&amp;data=05%7C02%7CHannah.R.Demissie%40abc.com%7C1dd79885b335415d90ab08def94bba6c%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639222301061393512%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SJ2sN3l5gaxLUs7WzzFBRuFbLsHYb2G5jtcnkN%2F6Vww%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">voted to recommend<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<!-- -->that South Carolina be the first state to hold a presidential nominating contest in 2028, while recommending greenlighting New Hampshire, Michigan and Nevada as well to go in the early period of the primaries and caucuses before the &#8220;Super Tuesday&#8221; batch of primaries on March 7, 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The party is expected to give a final vote on Saturday, during its scheduled meeting, to finalize the 2028 calendar order, which would have South Carolina&#8217;s primary on Jan. 22, Nevada on Feb. 1, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, New Mexico on Feb. 15, Michigan on Feb. 22 and Virginia on Feb. 29.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The proposed order puts South Carolina at the top of the list<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->&#8212; similar to how it was the first state in the party&#8217;s official calendar in 2024, although New Hampshire still held primaries earlier in violation of the DNC\u2019s calendar. Because of that, then-President Joe Biden stayed off the 2024 primary ballot in New Hampshire.<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->It also moves up Nevada and Michigan&#8217;s primaries and moves back New Hampshire&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The change in the early nominating line-up also signals an effort by the party to be more reflective of the voting demographics in their coalition, specifically Black voters and Latino voters in states such as South Carolina, Nevada and New Mexico, respectively.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur Rnci \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Delegates attend the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 22, 2024 in Chicago.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Paul Sancya\/AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Some within the party have praised the elevation of South Carolina as a key overture to Black voters, a major constituency within the Democratic Party, amid <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/south-carolina-senate-effectively-kills-proposed-congressional-map\/story?id=133321324\" dir=\"ltr\">mid-decade redistricting<\/a> and administration actions that advocates say are furthering racial discrimination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The new order also puts a focus on Latino voters, with <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/vegas-workers-hit-tourism-slump-fueled-trump-era\/story?id=135241132\" dir=\"ltr\">Nevada going second in the line-up<\/a>, after Democrats lost ground with the key demographic in the 2024 presidential election. Analysis conducted<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pewresearch.org%2Fpolitics%2F2025%2F06%2F26%2Fvoting-patterns-in-the-2024-election%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CSarah.Beth.Hensley%40abc.com%7C0006137226ea4dda4d2408def9687172%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639222424141627269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5tPnzUGL25s%2FuPMRNlyoTfEH5avaIx25ZRks3lJomjw%3D&amp;reserved=0\" dir=\"ltr\">by the Pew Research Center<\/a>\u00a0<!-- -->found that while Biden won among Hispanic voters by 25 points in 2020, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris only won among them by 3 points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The suggested line-up also features two battleground states &#8212; Michigan and Nevada &#8212; that are critical to deciding the next president. President Donald Trump won both Michigan and Nevada in the 2024 election; Biden won both states in the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Beyond the regional and demographic dynamics, the states set to go first also reflect broader ideological debates within the party that have animated many races in 2026 and may be set to continue to 2028, including whether the party should field more moderate candidates in swing states to have more crossover appeal, or nominate progressives promising change that many Democrats feel people want.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">For instance, Michigan being in the early window could mean that the ideological debate that played out in the recent Senate primary there, where progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won by a slim margin over the moderate Haley Stevens, will likely continue &#8212; and could be impacted by whether El-Sayed wins or loses against the Republican candidate in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Some controversy arose when New Hampshire was not proposed to be in the first spot, despite a state law requiring the state hold first-in-the-nation primaries. State party officials have openly criticized the DNC&#8217;s calendar and indicated New Hampshire&#8217;s DNC members will vote against it, but have been quiet over what sort of compromise they might be able to come to with the DNC to avoid the state party being given penalties<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->if the primaries are held on a different date than the DNC\u2019s calendar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7f78517f-71e6-4b94-a67b-ae579b472e21\/ken-martin-ap-gmh-260813_1786638259820_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7f78517f-71e6-4b94-a67b-ae579b472e21\/ken-martin-ap-gmh-260813_1786638259820_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7f78517f-71e6-4b94-a67b-ae579b472e21\/ken-martin-ap-gmh-260813_1786638259820_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7f78517f-71e6-4b94-a67b-ae579b472e21\/ken-martin-ap-gmh-260813_1786638259820_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7f78517f-71e6-4b94-a67b-ae579b472e21\/ken-martin-ap-gmh-260813_1786638259820_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Ken Martin speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Feb. 21, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Jeff Chiu\/AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley said the Rules and Bylaws Committee&#8217;s July decision to not make the state the first presidential primary showed that &#8220;many party insiders have learned nothing from 2024.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;New Hampshire has a proven track record of testing our candidates with a rigorous, fair, and efficient process, yet those qualities did not prevail,\u201d Buckley said in a statement last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Iowa Democrats have similarly criticized the calendar given that it bumps the key political state from the early window &#8212; although the Iowa caucuses are party-run, not state-run, and in 2024 the state party came to a compromise with the DNC over the calendar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The DNC has said that penalties that could be levied on state parties, such as fines and loss of delegates; and on presidential candidates, such as potentially losing access to DNC-sanctioned debates if they campaign in states out of order, will serve as enough of a deterrent for states to follow the order and for candidates to not campaign in states conflicting with the calendar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">While the Republican National Committee has not yet unveiled its own 2028 presidential nominating contest calendar, the party\u2019s Presidential Nominating Process Committee voted in January to advance a presidential nominating calendar that matches the one the party used in 2024, including having Iowa and New Hampshire at the front of the line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The DNC meeting comes amid many <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/democratic-donors-frustrated-dnc-chair-ken-martin-amid\/story?id=132286127\" dir=\"ltr\">Democrats&#8217; frustrations<\/a> with DNC Chair Ken Martin\u2019s leadership and concerns about the national party&#8217;s fundraising, which continues to lag significantly behind Republicans&#8217;. However, no major movement to pressure Martin to step down as DNC chair has materialized.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Martin and the DNC have defended his leadership,<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->citing the party\u2019s success in the 2025 elections and renewed enthusiasm among Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;The DNC has a clear job: win elections so we have the chance to improve people\u2019s lives. With Donald Trump dismantling both our economy and our democracy, that job is more important than ever,&#8221; Martin wrote in a<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkenmartin73.substack.com%2Fp%2Fthe-dnc-is-building-a-democratic&amp;data=05%7C02%7CSarah.Beth.Hensley%40abc.com%7Cc2280f433bd04e97989508def97b7166%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639222505738685402%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6bJCug3ALpZhMz593idPyA3vs97gQWaZgE7Ma2UMGAE%3D&amp;reserved=0\" dir=\"ltr\">post on Substack in July<\/a>. &#8220;Judged on that metric, our candidates\u2019 results have been historic, with victories or overperformances in 90 percent of key races since Trump was elected. And at the DNC, we are raising and deploying the resources necessary to continue that trend and take back Congress.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Democrats also lack a formal mechanism by which to remove Martin from his position, sources told ABC News.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Democratic National Committee is expected to vote on Saturday to approve the new order of states for\u00a0the 2028 presidential nominating process as progressives and moderates grapple over the party&#8217;s direction in the midterms. In late July, the DNC\u2019s Rules and Bylaws Committee\u00a0voted to recommend\u00a0that South Carolina be the first state to hold a presidential&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/60f421c2-507a-4168-b7de-763931d14bf3\/dnc-1-ap-gmh-260813_1786638260157_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}