Black and Latino Democratic leaders are currently debating whether South Carolina or Nevada should hold the first contest in the 2028 presidential primary. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the primary calendar, which influences candidate momentum and resource allocation. South Carolina held the first-in-the-nation primary in 2024, a move that emphasized the importance of Black voters to the party's base.
Advocates for South Carolina, including civil rights leader Al Sharpton and state party chair Christale Spain, argued that maintaining the state's lead position is essential to honoring Black political power. Spain told reporters that prioritizing Nevada because of its Latino population could send a message that Black voters are less valued. Supporters of the South Carolina primary also noted that the state was pivotal to recent Democratic wins.
Conversely, more than two dozen Latino leaders, representing groups such as Voto Latino and the Latino Victory Project, submitted a letter to the DNC urging the committee to select Nevada for the lead spot. They cited the rapid growth of the Latino electorate and noted that Nevada’s population includes significant Black, Asian, and Native American communities. Nevada state party chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno stated that the discussion is about national representation rather than prioritizing one state over another.
The outcome of the calendar debate may impact the 2028 field of candidates. Political analysts suggest that a South Carolina lead could favor candidates with strong support among Black voters, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris. A Nevada lead could potentially benefit different coalitions, including those aligned with the progressive wing of the party, as the state recently transitioned from a caucus system to a primary.