DNC Keeps South Carolina First in 2028 — Black Voters Win an Early Voice in the Democratic Nomination

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee voted on Friday to keep South Carolina as the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary state for 2028, cementing Black voters' influential role in shaping the party's nomination process.

Party leaders and advocates framed the decision as recognition of the sustained political influence of Black voters within the Democratic coalition. Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist from South Carolina who advises national campaigns, described the move as overdue validation. "It would have been a slap in the face, quite frankly, because we've proven our net worth and our network time and time again," he said.

Why South Carolina Matters

Black voters make up roughly 60% of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina, giving them an outsized role in determining the state's winner. The Palmetto State's primary awards 55 pledged delegates, and historically the state has been a key early test of candidates' appeal — with only a few exceptions where the primary winner did not go on to win the presidency.

(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The decision also revives memories of the 2020 cycle, when Black voters in South Carolina helped revive Joe Biden's campaign, demonstrating how influential the state's electorate can be in shaping the national race. Advocates say the early-primary slot will force candidates to engage early and directly with Black voters on the issues that matter to them.

Historical and Political Resonance

Black voters have been a consistent Democratic constituency for decades. Historically, roughly 80–90% of Black voters have supported the Democratic presidential nominee in modern presidential contests; Barack Obama received about 91% of the Black vote in 2008. Observers stress that keeping South Carolina first acknowledges both that record of support and the practical power Black voters wield in early nominating contests.

Seawright noted the broader historical symbolism, referencing Charleston's central role in the transatlantic slave trade. "The same hands that once picked cotton now will have the first say-so of who gets to pick the presidential nominee for the party that represents best the interests of Black Americans. That's a powerful story," he told theGrio.

MONCKS CORNER, SOUTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 31: A person casts their ballot in the Democratic Presidential Primary during early voting at the Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration & Elections facility on January 31, 2024 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Policy, Economic, and Voting Rights Implications

Supporters say the early-primary position will bring policy attention to issues important to Black voters — from voting rights and racial justice to criminal justice and economic opportunity — and will also funnel campaign spending into the state. Khalil Thompson, founder of Win With Black Men, said candidates spending millions to reach voters could provide an economic boost to local vendors, transportation and audio-visual firms.

Advocates contrasted South Carolina's outcome with broader national trends in which changes to redistricting rules and some recent Supreme Court decisions have made it harder to challenge maps that critics say dilute Black voting power. They argued this makes having an early, high-profile role in the nominating calendar even more important.

"It's historic to see that we now have diversity in the voting process," said Thompson, noting recent fights over congressional maps in the state and robust voter responses in primaries.

Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and the lead petitioner on the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee, said the vote "recognizes the importance of Black and rural voters in shaping the Democratic Party's future." The committee also set South Carolina's primary date for Jan. 22, 2028.

With South Carolina leading the 2028 calendar, advocates and party officials say candidates will be compelled to make Black voters' priorities central to their early campaign messages — and that the state will reap both political and economic attention as a result.