Democrats Approve New Early Primary Calendar, South Carolina to Lead in 2028

Why it matters locally: While Ohio is not among the initial states in the newly approved Democratic primary calendar, changes to the national primary schedule could influence the broader presidential nomination process, potentially affecting how candidates campaign and allocate resources as the election cycle progresses towards later-voting states like Ohio.

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The Democratic Party has approved a new schedule for its early presidential primary elections in 2028, placing South Carolina first. Nevada will follow as the second state to hold a primary contest. This revised calendar emphasizes states with substantial Black and Latino voter populations. Following South Carolina and Nevada, the approved schedule includes New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia in the sequence of early nominating events. Party officials indicated this order reflects an effort to give greater influence to diverse demographics early in the primary process.