South Carolina Moves to the Front
A Democratic National Committee rules panel voted Friday to put South Carolina first on the party’s 2028 presidential primary calendar, a major change from the old Iowa-first tradition that ruled Democratic politics for decades. The Palmetto State has a large black voting bloc, and Democrats made clear they want that bloc to have early power in choosing the next nominee. One panel member said South Carolina would “emerge as the first contest” in a lineup with many other contests where candidates could compete. Translation from political-speak: the party is rearranging the starting line, and this time the cornfields of Iowa are not getting the red-carpet treatment.
WATCH: The Calendar Shift on C-SPAN
https://x.com/cspan/status/2080709098404786377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Biden’s 2020 Comeback Still Echoes
This move did not appear out of thin air. Joe Biden pushed Democrats to elevate South Carolina after the state rescued his 2020 campaign. Before that win, Biden had taken a beating in Iowa and finished fifth in New Hampshire, which is not exactly the kind of campaign poster anyone frames for the office wall. South Carolina gave him a comeback, powered heavily by black voters, and Biden later asked the party to move the state up for the 2024 cycle. Now Democrats are continuing that path into 2028, showing once again that when party insiders find a formula that helps their preferred lane, they tend to call it “reform.”
Kamala Harris Could Benefit Early
The calendar change could matter a lot for Kamala Harris if she runs in 2028. Some early polling has shown Harris leading California Governor Gavin Newsom in a possible Democratic primary matchup, and South Carolina’s electorate may give her a friendlier opening than states like Iowa or New Hampshire. That does not mean she has the nomination locked up, not even close, but early wins can shape fundraising, media coverage, and donor confidence. In politics, momentum is often treated like gold, even when it is just a shiny campaign memo with better lighting.
Iowa and New Hampshire Lose Ground
Michigan beat Iowa in the vote to become the Democrats’ early Midwest state, meaning Iowa is no longer in the early-state club after leading the nominating calendar for decades through 2020. New Hampshire, which has usually held the second slot in past cycles, reportedly finished a distant third in voting to become the first primary state. Nevada was also in the running for the top spot, but concerns were raised about how quickly the state could process election results. Democrats also tied the South Carolina decision to their stated goal of strengthening black voting power in the South after the Supreme Court restricted parts of the Voting Rights Act earlier this year and sparked new redistricting fights.
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