Southern Democratic leaders urge DNC to keep South Carolina first in 2028 primary

Democratic leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia sent a joint letter Thursday asking the Democratic National Committee to keep South Carolina as the first state to vote in the 2028 presidential primaries. The chairs wrote that the state serves as "the indispensable first proving ground for Democratic presidential nominees" and argued that any change would signal that "Southern Democrats and Black voters in particular" have their loyalty taken for granted.

Background on the request The letter was sent as the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meets this week to hear presentations from states seeking the lead-off position. South Carolina has held one of the earliest Democratic primaries for years, giving candidates an early test of support among Black voters who form a large share of the state's Democratic electorate.

Rep. , who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, sent a separate letter repeating the same argument.

past calendar changes Other Southern states including Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are also seeking early slots on the 2028 calendar. The DNC is expected to finalize the order later this summer. For the 2024 cycle, party leaders had moved South Carolina ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire to reflect a more racially diverse electorate.

New Hampshire held its own primary earlier anyway. " — Rep. , May 28, 2026 (Just the News) The request follows a Supreme Court redistricting ruling that prompted several Southern states to redraw legislative maps and reduce majority-minority districts.

South Carolina kept its existing map.