Democrats choose South Carolina to lead 2028 primary calendar

On July 24, 2026, the Democratic National Committee selected South Carolina to hold the party's first presidential nominating contest in 2028, replacing Iowa. The decision was made by a DNC panel and approved a new primary election calendar. This move underscores the growing influence of Black voters in the Democratic primaries. Iowa, which traditionally kicked off the nominating process, was left out of the lead-off position.