DNC Panel Approves 2028 Primary Schedule Starting with South Carolina

A powerful Democratic National Committee panel voted on Friday to kick off the 2028 presidential primaries in South Carolina. This decision has been met with criticism from some progressive Democrats, who think it could make it harder for one of their own to win the party's nomination. The panel's decision came with Democrats already divided over a wave of contentious 2026 primaries that have pitted an insurgent left against the party's more moderate establishment.

The elevation of South Carolina on the party's 2028 primary calendar is seen by some progressives as part of an effort to halt the left wing's momentum in the run-up to this year's midterms. South Carolina edged out Nevada for the first spot on the primary schedule, which has stung progressives because Bernie Sanders won the primary in Nevada in 2020. Some DNC members were concerned that making Nevada the first state to vote would boost another socialist candidate.

However, not all Democrats are happy with the decision to put South Carolina first. A member of the DNC's Rules & Bylaws panel said that putting South Carolina first could shut down a progressive presidential candidate, which is not a strategy for winning the electorate. On the other hand, South Carolina Democratic Party chair Christale Spain believes that a progressive candidate such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could win the state's primary.