The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Rules and Bylaws Committee has established a deadline of January 16 for states to submit their proposals if they wish to be included in the early line-up for the 2028 presidential primary calendar.
States that want to be among the first to participate will be evaluated based on how rigorous, efficient, and fair their proposals are. The DNC plans to limit the initial lineup to five states.
“I’m monitoring this process,” said DNC California Member Keith Umemoto. “This is just one of the numerous ways we, as Democrats, will use to get candidates through the primaries and up to the top of the ticket, allowing states to demonstrate how they’re performing across various criteria.”
The party is weighing the possibility of adjusting its early presidential election schedule, with numerous states expressing interest in being among the first to present candidates. For the 2024 election, the DNC reshuffled its lineup, putting South Carolina in the lead to acknowledge the crucial role of Black voters and the state’s influence in endorsing former President Joe Biden, while Iowa was sidelined from the early caucus scene.
Several potential candidates for 2028, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Senator Ruben Gallego, have already started visiting traditional early states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
One concern for Democrats involves states led by Republicans and their capacity to adjust their primary dates if necessary. New Hampshire, in particular, faced challenges in aligning its date with the DNC’s calendar due to opposition from Republican leaders.
Georgia also lost its early status last year after it couldn’t adjust key dates to fit the DNC’s timeline.
“One of the issues the state is tackling is whether we can convince Congress, especially if it’s controlled by Republicans, to make those changes. Can we get them to cooperate?” asked Virginia DNC Commissioner Elaine Kamarck. “Otherwise, it’s just a pointless exercise.”
