US Democrats finalise major shakeup to 2028 presidential primary calendar

The US Democratic Party has finalised a major shakeup to its 2028 presidential primary calendar. Under the new schedule, South Carolina will once again take centre stage as the first state to hold a nominating contest.

This change means Iowa, long known as the traditional state that opened the primary season, has been pushed from its longstanding top position in the calendar.

Why the order matters

The sequence of the primary calendar carries significant weight, as the states that vote first typically have an outsized influence on which candidates gain momentum heading into the broader nomination race. The state that votes first tends to draw heightened attention from both the media and candidates, which can shape the trajectory of an entire nominating campaign.

South Carolina has previously played a prominent role in the Democratic Party's primary process, and this latest decision reinforces its position as the first state to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the wider nomination contest.

The decision to reorder the calendar is part of the party's internal process for determining the sequence in which different US states hold their primaries or caucuses to select presidential nominees. Changes of this kind are typically adopted through the party's national committee and can influence how candidates plan their campaign strategies in upcoming election cycles.