Southern Democrats Push for South Carolina to Lead 2028 Primary

Democratic leaders from several Southern states are urging the Democratic National Committee to keep South Carolina as the first state on the party’s 2028 presidential primary calendar.

In a letter sent Thursday to the DNC, Democratic Party chairs from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia argued that South Carolina remains the best early test for candidates seeking to build the diverse coalition needed to win the White House.

The letter described South Carolina as “a moral and political compass” for the Democratic Party and warned against reducing the state’s influence in the nominating process.

DNC debates 2028 primary order

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is currently reviewing proposals from more than a dozen states hoping to secure an early position in the 2028 primary calendar.

Other Southern states seeking a prominent role include Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Supporters of South Carolina argue the state offers a critical test of candidates’ appeal among Black voters, who make up a major share of the Democratic electorate there.

Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said the state provides something other early-voting states cannot.

“The role of Black folks” in shaping Democratic politics remains central to South Carolina’s importance, she said.

Black voter influence remains central

The debate over the primary calendar highlights the Democratic Party’s broader effort to prioritize racial diversity in the nominating process.

For decades, heavily white states like Iowa and New Hampshire traditionally opened the presidential primary season.

That changed during the 2024 election cycle after Joe Biden pushed for South Carolina to move to the front of the calendar.

Biden argued that the state better reflected the Democratic Party’s modern voter base.

The move followed Biden’s decisive victory in South Carolina during the 2020 Democratic primary, a win widely credited with reviving his struggling campaign after an endorsement from longtime Congressman Jim Clyburn.

In their latest letter, Southern Democratic leaders warned that reducing South Carolina’s status could alienate Black voters and Southern Democrats.

“Any effort to diminish South Carolina’s role in the primary process would be a step backward,” the group wrote.

Democrats already positioning for 2028 race

Even though the DNC is not expected to finalize the 2028 calendar until later this year, several Democrats considered potential presidential contenders have already begun visiting South Carolina.

Party strategists view the state as one of the most influential early battlegrounds for testing fundraising strength, coalition building and voter enthusiasm ahead of the next presidential race.

The renewed debate also comes as Democrats attempt to recover politically after recent election setbacks and internal disagreements over the party’s direction heading into 2028.