Democrats on Saturday approved a new 2028 presidential nominating calendar that places South Carolina as the party's first primary state, a move that removes New Hampshire from its long-held early-testing role and could significantly alter how presidential contenders campaign in the Granite State.
New lineup, new dates
The Democratic National Committee voted during its summer meeting in Austin to open the 2028 calendar with South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on Feb. 1. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia will hold nominating contests in February ahead of Super Tuesday, according to the DNC announcement.
| State | Date |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | Jan. 22, 2028 |
| Nevada | Feb. 1, 2028 |
| New Hampshire | February 2028 (specific date to come) |
| New Mexico | February 2028 |
| Michigan | February 2028 |
| Virginia | February 2028 |
Party rationale and reaction
DNC leaders framed the decision as part of a broader push to make early contests reflect the party's diverse electorate. DNC Chair Ken Martin said the schedule shift is about strategy and inclusion.
"This is much bigger than a lineup of dates on a calendar," said DNC Chair Ken Martin. "This is about our approach to winning back the presidency. It's about the kind of Democratic Party and the kind of country we aspire to be."
Supporters of the change argue the new sequence gives greater weight to Black and Latino voters, constituencies they say have been underrepresented in the traditional early-state ordering that for decades prioritized Iowa and New Hampshire.
Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, speaking to CBS News, said the calendar forces candidates to perform well with communities of color: "If you're not strong with Latino voters or if you're not strong with Black voters, you know you can only get so far in this calendar," he said, adding the schedule shows Black voters "the respect that they're due."
New Hampshire response
New Hampshire party leaders and elected officials, who have long defended the state's "First in the Nation" primary, criticized the DNC plan. State officials have regularly argued that the early New Hampshire contest produces better-prepared candidates and that the state serves as an important testing ground — arguments party leaders in the state have reiterated in past disputes with the national party.
Local officials and longtime primary organizers now face the task of assessing how the change will affect campaign activity, volunteer mobilization and the state's political economy. Candidates who once spent significant time and money courting New Hampshire voters may redirect staff and resources to earlier states under the new sequence.
Practical effects for Granite State voters
For voters and local election officials, the calendar change raises immediate practical questions: Will New Hampshire keep its state law guaranteeing an early primary date? How will presidential campaigns allocate resources and visits? And what will be the impact on New Hampshire's political media, retail politics tradition and campaign-related revenues?
Some of those answers will depend on follow-up decisions by the DNC and actions by state lawmakers. Historically, New Hampshire has asserted its right under state law to hold an early primary; the national party's calendar establishes the DNC's preferred order for delegates and recognition within the party's nominating process.
What comes next
The DNC's calendar decision goes into effect for the 2028 cycle. The precise dates for New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia will be finalized by party committees and state officials in the months ahead. Any change in laws or scheduling in New Hampshire could prompt further debate between state leaders and the national Democratic Party.
- South Carolina will be the first Democratic primary state on Jan. 22, 2028.
- Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia follow in February.
- The move reflects a party strategy to center constituencies it views as central to winning national elections.
The decision marks another turning point in the long-running conversation about which states should set the tone for presidential nominating contests. For New Hampshire — which has built a national brand around its early primary — the 2028 cycle will be the first test of how the state adapts when it no longer opens the Democratic nominating calendar.
(Bethany Sokolov is the WE NEWS state correspondent covering New Hampshire politics.)
