South Carolina Tapped For First 2028 Democratic Primary

According to Axios, a key Democratic National Committee Rules & Bylaws panel has preliminarily selected South Carolina to hold the first Democratic presidential primary of 2028, choosing it over Nevada in a vote that still needs full DNC ratification. The panel said South Carolina was elevated because it is a diverse, small state where candidates can compete without massive advertising budgets. The decision followed a contentious debate that split Black and Latino Democrats, as well as progressives and moderates. South Carolina Democrats and allies argued that Black voters would feel betrayed if the state were not first, while supporters of Nevada cited its large Latino and working-class electorate. Axios also reported that former Vice President Kamala Harris could benefit from the move because she is leading the potential 2028 Democratic field among Black voters. New Hampshire and possibly Iowa may still try to hold contests on their own, despite new Democratic rules aimed at punishing states that cut in line.