The Democratic Party sets South Carolina as the first contest for the 2028 presidential primary calendar, replacing Iowa at the top. The change is part of the party’s finalized order for the first six states that will participate in the nominating process to winnow the candidate field.
The Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin says the revised sequence is intended to ensure candidates are “battle-tested.” Other outlets report that the move pushes Iowa and New Hampshire later in the timeline, though the specific pacing and dates for all early states are determined by the party’s schedule. The American Conservative also links the decision to the party’s considerations about diversity, framing the shift as reflecting broader priorities in how early states participate.
