2028 Democratic primaries to open in South Carolina

The US Democratic Party voted on August 15 to open its 2028 presidential nominating calendar in South Carolina, followed by Nevada, as it prioritises states with large Black and Latino populations early in the race.

South Carolina is scheduled to vote on January 22, 2028. Nevada will follow on February 1. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia complete the first six states due to help choose the party's nominee for the White House race.

Party chair Ken Martin said in a statement that the schedule represented the party and would help Democrats try to retake the White House in 2028. The Democratic Party said the calendar was meant to test presidential hopefuls with a more diverse electorate and in important general-election states.

Party officials also voted to increase penalties for states that do not comply with the designated schedule. It was unclear whether New Hampshire, whose state law requires it to hold the country's first primary, would follow the plan. Iowa's position also remained uncertain because state law requires its caucuses to take place before any other state.

South Carolina was important to Joe Biden's successful campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination. After becoming president, Biden changed party rules to make South Carolina the first primary state in the 2024 campaign, but New Hampshire held its vote before South Carolina in defiance of the party's calendar.