Democrats Establish New Early Primary Schedule for 2028 Election Cycle

Why it matters locally: While not directly hosting an early primary, North Carolina, as a key swing state, will likely see increased campaign activity and resource allocation from presidential candidates campaigning in neighboring South Carolina and Virginia during the early primary season.

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The Democratic Party has finalized its calendar for the early presidential primary contests in 2028. Party officials designated South Carolina as the initial state to hold a primary election. Nevada will then host the second primary. This new sequence reflects an emphasis on states with diverse electorates. Party leaders cited the importance of Black and Latino voters in their decision-making process for the early primary states. Beyond South Carolina and Nevada, the approved schedule includes several other states for early contests. These include New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. These states will also hold their primary elections early in the 2028 cycle.