The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws panel voted on July 24, 2026, to recommend that South Carolina hold the first 2028 Democratic presidential primary, according to NPR Source: NPR.

The panel recommended South Carolina vote first over Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa. The DNC published a press release titled "DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Proposes Early States for 2028 Democratic Presidential Nominating Calendar" on July 24, 2026 Source: democrats.org.

The recommended early-primary order is South Carolina on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire, then New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. Only six states will be permitted to hold Democratic primaries before Super Tuesday on March 7, 2028.

The recommended 2028 primary calendar will be presented to the full DNC for a final vote in August 2026.

South Carolina also held the first Democratic presidential primary in 2024, which was the first time the process did not start with the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. The DNC published the early-window calendar at democrats.org/early-window.

The push to place South Carolina first was motivated by a desire to prioritize Black voters, a key Democratic voting bloc. Nearly one in four registered voters in South Carolina is Black, according to state voting data. According to AP Vote Cast, 83% of Black voters nationwide backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Joe Biden's first early-state victory in the 2020 Democratic nomination came in South Carolina.

Christale Spain is the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.