Democratic Party Sets 2028 Primary Calendar with South Carolina First

The United States Democratic Party is finalising the schedule for the 2028 presidential nomination, moving South Carolina to the opening slot on the calendar. The change pushes Nevada, which had hoped to be the first contest, to a later position and continues the trend of sidelining Iowa, which was removed from the early‑state window after President Biden’s poor performance there in 2020.

The new ordering is expected to shape the early dynamics of the race, with high‑profile figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris slated to vote later in March. The shift has sparked intra‑party debate, as state parties argue over the strategic advantages of different first‑vote states and the broader direction of the Democratic electorate.

Analysts note that the calendar reshuffle reflects the party’s effort to make early contests more representative of its national base, while also setting the stage for a competitive nomination process that could feature multiple candidates from the same state and a generational divide over the legacy of the Trump era.