DNC to finalize controversial 2028 primary calendar, elevating South Carolina

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to finalize the 2028 primary calendar, with South Carolina scheduled to be the first state to hold a presidential nominating contest. This decision comes after the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended elevating South Carolina to the top of the list, followed by New Hampshire, Michigan, and Nevada before the Super Tuesday primaries on March 7, 2028.

The proposed order is expected to reflect a greater focus on Black and Latino voters, addressing concerns over racial discrimination in the party's coalition. South Carolina, Nevada, and New Mexico are all states where Democrats lost ground in the 2024 election. The new calendar also includes two battleground states, Michigan and Nevada, which are crucial in determining the next president.

However, controversy arises as New Hampshire, which holds first-in-the-nation primaries by law, is not included in the early window. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley criticized the DNC's decision, stating that many party insiders have learned nothing from the 2024 primaries. The DNC has threatened penalties for states that deviate from the calendar, such as fines and loss of delegates.