DNC approves 2028 presidential nominating cycle, leaving Iowa out

The Democratic National Committee on Saturday approved by voice vote its lineup of six early primaries for the 2028 election cycle, kicking off with South Carolina and Nevada.

DNC Chair Ken Martin said during Saturday's meeting that the early lineup reflects the diversity of the party's electorate. "Our 2028 nominee, whoever they are, will have to earn the support across the full breadth of America -- every region, every demographic, every generation, every economic station in life," he said. "No shortcuts. No coronation. You want to lead this party? You go earn it."

Saturday's vote ratified the DNC's rules and bylaws committee vote in late July to recommend the lineup for approval by the full party.

Throughout the meeting, speakers and party officials from each of the six states to hold an early contest praised the impact the calendar will have for regions that haven't always been top of mind for national candidates. Jaime Harrison, the former DNC chair who challenged the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2020, said the calendar will tell a "whole new generation" of voters that the party is fighting for them.

The full lineup of primaries is as follows: South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028, Nevada on Feb. 1, 2028, New Hampshire on Feb. 8, 2028, New Mexico on Feb. 15, 2028, Michigan on Feb. 22, 2028 and Virginia on Feb. 29, 2028.

Notably, the early lineup excludes Iowa, despite a push from its state party officials to keep it among the initial contests. In a speech opposing the 2028 calendar Saturday, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said that it "fundamentally misses the mark." "It's a product of broken promises, and it excludes huge swaths of the country and the voters that Democrats need to win the kind of majorities it takes to restore democratic principles and reject this misguided and corrupt Trump administration," she said. "The 2028 calendar has no representation of states with a majority of central or mountain time zones, and no Midwest state is among the first four."

New Hampshire, which has also long held an early position in the nominating process, kept its position, however.