Democratic panel recommends South Carolina lead 2028 presidential nominating calendar

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended South Carolina as the first primary state for the 2028 presidential cycle, pending final approval. The decision expands early primaries to six states, including New Mexico and Virginia, while excluding Iowa, which previously held first-in-the-nation caucuses. Former President Joe Biden supported South Carolina after his 2020 victory there, and committee members cited the need to address voting barriers highlighted by a recent Supreme Court ruling.