The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee votes to recommend South Carolina as the first state to hold the 2028 Democratic presidential nominating contest, setting it up to open the party’s primary calendar. Multiple outlets report that the committee’s recommendation follows an internal process that aims to determine the order of contests for the next cycle. Bloomberg and other reports describe broader efforts by senior Democratic officials to start the 2028 nomination process in South Carolina and suggest the lineup could represent a significant shift from prior timelines.
The committee’s action is not final. Several sources say the recommendation must be considered and confirmed by the full DNC, which will meet later, including a reported gathering in Austin, Texas. Additional reporting indicates that other states are expected to follow in subsequent positions—often described as Nevada, then New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia—though the precise schedule is still subject to final approval.
Some coverage frames the decision as the result of a contest of competing proposals between South Carolina and Nevada, with debates linked to voter outreach and how the party allocates early influence.
