Two states are the top contenders for the first spot on Democrats’ 2028 primary calendar

Two states are the top contenders: Democrats' 2028 Primary Calendar: Nevada and South Carolina Battle for First Place Sandego.net – According to

Democrats’ 2028 Primary Calendar: Nevada and South Carolina Battle for First Place

Sandego.net – According to discussions with influential members of the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, Nevada and South Carolina have emerged as the leading candidates to receive the inaugural position on the party’s 2028 presidential primary schedule. One anonymous committee member, permitted to discuss private deliberations, expressed uncertainty about the final decision. “I have to say at this point it’s probably 50-50,” they noted. “This is going to be a tough one.”

Committee Deliberations Underway

The selection panel is convening in Washington, DC, during the current week to determine which states will occupy the early primary window. This decision follows several months of intense lobbying efforts from various states seeking favorable placement on the calendar. Once the committee reaches its conclusion, it will present recommendations to the full DNC for consideration as early as next month.

The committee members are focusing on two potential scenarios designed to balance representation between states with significant Black and Latino voter populations. Under the first proposal, Nevada would take the opening position, followed by South Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire, and potentially Virginia as the fifth state. The alternative arrangement places South Carolina first, with Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, and New Hampshire completing the early slate.

Nevada’s Case for Primacy

Supporters of Nevada emphasize the state’s demographic diversity, robust labor union presence, and reputation as a competitive electoral battleground. Daniele Monroe-Moreno, chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, articulated this perspective clearly. “If Nevada goes first, it’s a strategic decision for our party as we work to build a coalition that we know we need to build to win back the White House in 2028,” she explained to CNN. “Nevada is that proving ground for national candidates, period.”

“We’ve been clear at every step, this is about reaching a broad coalition of diverse voters, not elevating or prioritizing any voice over another,” Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Steven Horsford wrote in a Wednesday letter to RBC members obtained by CNN.

Nevada’s advocates highlight that beyond its substantial Latino electorate, the state encompasses Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Native American, and White working-class constituents. This comprehensive diversity strengthens their argument for the top position.

South Carolina’s Historical Advantage

The New York Times initially reported on South Carolina and Nevada’s emergence as frontrunners for the coveted first slot. South Carolina secured the opening position in 2024 following a request from former President Joe Biden. Proponents of maintaining this arrangement cite recent Republican challenges to Black electoral influence, including an unprecedented mid-cycle redistricting effort and the Supreme Court’s Callais decision that diminished Voting Rights Act protections.

“We’ve just been telling the history of South Carolina in this process, how our voters have always gotten it right,” said Christale Spain, the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and an RBC member.

South Carolina’s defenders also point to its track record of selecting eventual Democratic primary winners, notably in 2020 when the state’s results revitalized Biden’s campaign after earlier setbacks.

Looking Ahead

While Nevada and South Carolina compete for the leading positions, the remaining slots remain uncertain. One RBC member described the situation as involving “about a billion computations out there,” noting a preference for both states in the first two positions but acknowledging different proposed arrangements. Additional sources, including another committee member and someone familiar with the panel’s deliberations, indicated that Virginia and New Mexico are likely vying for the fifth and final early window position.

For many years, Democrats and Republicans alike have opened their presidential nominating processes with Iowa’s caucuses and New Hampshire’s primary. More recently, South Carolina and Nevada have claimed subsequent positions before other states participate on or after Super Tuesday. However, preceding the 2024 presidential primaries, Democrats implemented a new requirement mandating that states submit applications for early window slots during each election cycle.