“It's going to battle-test our nominee with key parts of our coalition and key parts of the country in a way that we've never seen before.
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DNC Locks In South Carolina as the First 2028 Primary and Cuts Iowa From the Early Window, as New Hampshire's Entire Delegation Vows the Granite State Will Vote First Anyway
August 16, 2026
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, the Democratic National Committee, meeting for its summer session in Austin, Texas, gave final approval to the party's 2028 presidential nominating calendar. The vote ratified a July 24, 2026 decision by the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee and ends Iowa's run at the front of the Democratic calendar, which began in 1972. The approved schedule runs six contests over six weeks: South Carolina on January 22, 2028, Nevada on February 1, New Hampshire on February 8, New Mexico on February 15, Michigan on February 22, and Virginia on February 29 — all before Super Tuesday. Party leaders framed the order as an effort to front-load states with large Black and Latino electorates, a coalition Democrats lost ground with in 2024. DNC Chair Ken Martin called it the most diverse calendar in the party's history. New Hampshire is the flashpoint. State law requires the New Hampshire secretary of state to schedule the presidential primary at least seven days before any similar contest anywhere in the country, which sets the statute on a collision course with the DNC's February 8 slot and raises the prospect that New Hampshire again holds an unsanctioned first primary and has its delegates penalized. The state's four Democratic members of Congress — Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander — condemned the decision in a joint statement when the Rules and Bylaws Committee acted in July, and Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the Republican leadership of the New Hampshire House said the state would hold the first primary regardless. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart urged DNC members to reject the calendar, warning that abandoning a rural Midwestern state cedes ground Republicans intend to occupy — the Iowa GOP plans to caucus first in 2028 regardless of the Democratic schedule. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez welcomed New Mexico's addition to the early window.
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11 Statements
“We need a Midwest and a truly rural state to be among the first four states if we hope to build sustainable and lasting majorities that enact real and meaningful change.
“New Mexico looks a lot like the America Democrats need to win. When our presidential candidates come and listen to and inspire our Latino voters, Latinos across the country are going to understand that they are not being taken for granted.
“For the second time this decade, the Democratic National Committee has turned their back on Granite Staters.
“Today's vote shows that many party insiders have learned nothing from 2024. This committee's vote does not change the realities governing New Hampshire's primary.
“In a joint statement, New Hampshire's congressional delegation said: 'The Democratic National Committee's decision today is wrong for Democrats, wrong for New Hampshire, and wrong for the country. New Hampshire's First in the Nation primary is a tested proving ground in a closely contested swing state that forges better candidates and better presidents — and despite what DNC insiders say, that hasn't changed. Regardless of today's vote, Granite Staters remain committed to the hard work of organizing.'
“In a joint statement, New Hampshire's congressional delegation said: 'The Democratic National Committee's decision today is wrong for Democrats, wrong for New Hampshire, and wrong for the country. New Hampshire's First in the Nation primary is a tested proving ground in a closely contested swing state that forges better candidates and better presidents — and despite what DNC insiders say, that hasn't changed. Regardless of today's vote, Granite Staters remain committed to the hard work of organizing.'
“In a joint statement, New Hampshire's congressional delegation said: 'The Democratic National Committee's decision today is wrong for Democrats, wrong for New Hampshire, and wrong for the country. New Hampshire's First in the Nation primary is a tested proving ground in a closely contested swing state that forges better candidates and better presidents — and despite what DNC insiders say, that hasn't changed. Regardless of today's vote, Granite Staters remain committed to the hard work of organizing.'
“In a joint statement, New Hampshire's congressional delegation said: 'The Democratic National Committee's decision today is wrong for Democrats, wrong for New Hampshire, and wrong for the country. New Hampshire's First in the Nation primary is a tested proving ground in a closely contested swing state that forges better candidates and better presidents — and despite what DNC insiders say, that hasn't changed. Regardless of today's vote, Granite Staters remain committed to the hard work of organizing.'
“The Democratic National Committee is completely wrong to disregard New Hampshire's First-in-the-Nation primary. We will not back down from defending New Hampshire's place in history, and I look forward to hosting the first primaries for both parties in 2028.
“Democrats may have abandoned New Hampshire, but make no mistake. New Hampshire Republicans will vote first.