The race for the 2028 Democratic nomination has a map now, and it is a bold one. The Democratic National Committee has locked in an early window that opens the door to new states, new voters and new kinds of campaigns. Here is every date so far, how we got here, and what is still up in the air.
Quick answer: The 2028 Democratic primary calendar opens with South Carolina on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada (Feb 1), New Hampshire (Feb 8), New Mexico (Feb 15), Michigan (Feb 22) and Virginia (Feb 29). Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028. The DNC approved the early window on August 15, 2026. Iowa is not in it.
The 2028 Democratic primary calendar at a glance
The DNC approved the 2028 early-window calendar on August 15, 2026, at its summer meeting in Austin, Texas. It is a six-state lineup, spread across the South, the West, the Northeast and the industrial Midwest. Here are the dates, exactly as approved.
| Order | State | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | January 22, 2028 |
| 2 | Nevada | February 1, 2028 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | February 8, 2028 |
| 4 | New Mexico | February 15, 2028 |
| 5 | Michigan | February 22, 2028 |
| 6 | Virginia | February 29, 2028 |
| Next | Super Tuesday | March 7, 2028 |
Source: the DNC’s announcement, “DNC Votes to Officially Select Early States for 2028,” at democrats.org. We checked these dates on October 5, 2026.
One note on the calendar’s shape: the early window runs about five weeks, one state roughly every week or so, before Super Tuesday arrives. That rhythm gives candidates time to learn from each contest, and gives voters in later states a chance to see the field narrow.
Six states, five weeks, and a whole new map: the road to the nomination starts here.
Why the early states matter
The early window is not just a warm-up. Candidates build momentum, donations and media attention in these first contests, and campaigns that stumble early often run out of road. That is why the states themselves matter so much.
The six chosen states give Democrats a wide test. They include a Southern state where Black voters are a decisive part of the Democratic electorate, a Western state with a large Latino population, a Northeastern state with a long primary tradition, and a Midwestern state at the heart of the industrial heartland. Add a Southwestern state and a fast-growing Mid-Atlantic state, and you have something that looks a lot more like the party’s real coalition.
Want a deeper look at any single contest? We are building a state-by-state series, starting with the South Carolina Democratic primary, the first in the nation on the Democratic calendar.
State-by-state: what to know about each early contest
South Carolina: January 22, 2028
South Carolina opens the Democratic calendar. A primary here puts the choices of the state’s Democratic voters, including a large share of Black voters, at the very front of the process. For candidates, an early win or a strong showing here can set the tone for everything that follows.
Nevada: February 1, 2028
Nevada comes next, bringing a Western, diverse and union-heavy electorate into the mix. Candidates will need organization on the ground to compete here. Our guide to the Nevada Democratic primary will cover the details as they are set.
New Hampshire: February 8, 2028
New Hampshire is a famous name in presidential politics, and it holds the third slot on the DNC calendar. There is a catch, covered in the “what is still undecided” section below: state law requires New Hampshire to hold the first primary in the nation. See our explainer on the New Hampshire primary for how that tension plays out.
New Mexico: February 15, 2028
New Mexico moves into the early window, giving a heavily Latino and Native American state a real voice in picking the nominee. We will explain the shift in our guide to the New Mexico primary.
Michigan: February 22, 2028
Michigan is a battleground with a big working-class base, a major auto industry and a diverse set of cities and suburbs. It is also home to one of the names often mentioned for 2028. Read more in our look at the Michigan Democratic primary.
Virginia: February 29, 2028
Virginia rounds out the window as the newest early state. It brings suburban voters, federal workers, rural communities and a growing, diverse population into the first round of voting. We will break it down in our Virginia Democratic primary guide.
A calendar that listens to more of the party’s voters makes for a stronger nominee and a stronger November.
Super Tuesday 2028: March 7
After the early window comes Super Tuesday, set for March 7, 2028. It is the day when many states vote at once, and a candidate’s strength is tested across a much bigger and more varied map. Money and organization matter a lot here, because campaigns have to compete in many places at the same time.
A strong early-window run can make Super Tuesday a launchpad. A weak one can make it a wall. We will cover what to expect in our guide to Super Tuesday 2028, including which states are on the ballot as that information is confirmed.
How the calendar was chosen
The calendar was approved by the DNC on August 15, 2026, at its summer meeting in Austin, Texas. The party picks which states go first, and it does so with an eye on a few big questions: Does the lineup reflect the party’s real voters? Can the states run smooth, well-organized contests? And does the order give candidates a fair test before the bigger states weigh in?
We are sticking to what the DNC has made public. The calendar and its dates are on the record at democrats.org. Where details beyond that are not confirmed, we say so rather than guess.
What changed from the past
The biggest change is who is in the early window, and who is not. Iowa is not in the Democratic early window. The state that traditionally opened the nominating season is out of the early lineup on the Democratic side. We cover that story in our explainer on the Iowa caucus and 2028.
On the Republican side, the picture is different. Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their 2028 calendar, according to RNC reports from September 2026. The GOP calendar is not final, so that could still shift.
What is still undecided
The map is set, but plenty is still moving. Here is what to watch.
- New Hampshire’s state law. New Hampshire law requires it to hold the first primary in the nation. That clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes. How the state and the party handle it will be one of the key stories of the next year.
- The Republican calendar. It is not final. Iowa is expected to stay first, but we will update this page if that changes.
- The convention city. The 2028 Democratic National Convention is set for August 7-10, 2028. The finalist host cities, announced August 20, 2026, are Boston, Denver and Philadelphia. Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated. A final pick is expected later in 2026, and we will update the page when it is announced.
- Debates. Debate dates and rules are not announced yet.
- Delegate rules and details. Voting rules differ from state to state. We will explain them in our guides on how Democrats award delegates and open versus closed primaries.
Who might run: the 2028 field so far
Here is the important fact: as of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 presidential run. That means everyone below is a potential candidate only. These are names that are widely reported as possibilities, and nothing more.
Potential Democratic candidates widely reported include Gavin Newsom (California governor), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania governor), JB Pritzker (Illinois governor), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan governor), Andy Beshear (Kentucky governor), Pete Buttigieg (former Transportation Secretary), Kamala Harris (former Vice President), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York representative), Cory Booker (New Jersey senator), Raphael Warnock (Georgia senator), Ruben Gallego (Arizona senator), Mark Kelly (Arizona senator), Elissa Slotkin (Michigan senator), Chris Van Hollen (Maryland senator) and Ro Khanna (California representative).
On the Republican side, no one has declared either. Potential names include JD Vance (Vice President), Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz and Brian Kemp.
We are tracking all of it in our 2028 Democratic candidates tracker. For a look at what the campaign season looks like before anyone officially announces, see when 2028 presidential campaigns start.
The road from primary to inauguration
The primaries are just the first leg. Here is the full timeline, using the confirmed dates.
- Early window: South Carolina on January 22, 2028 through Virginia on February 29, 2028.
- Super Tuesday: March 7, 2028.
- Democratic National Convention: August 7-10, 2028, host city to be announced.
- General election: Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
- Electors meet: December 18, 2028.
- Inauguration: January 20, 2029.
A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency. The 2028 election uses the electoral map from the 2020 census apportionment. And the Constitution sets the basics: a president must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old and a US resident for 14 years, and the 22nd Amendment limits a president to two elected terms.
Before 2028: the 2026 midterms come first
The 2028 calendar is exciting, but the next big test is closer. The 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with all 435 House seats, about a third of the Senate and 36 governors on the ballot. The results will shape the political landscape heading into the next presidential race.
Start with our 2026 midterm elections guide on what’s at stake for 2028, and check when the 2026 midterms are and what’s on the ballot. Want to see the big issues? Our upcoming explainer on where Democrats stand on the big issues is on the way.
Take action: Check your voter registration today on vote.gov, then text one friend and ask them to do the same. Rules, deadlines and online options differ by state, so confirm yours on vote.gov or with your state election office. Our upcoming guide on how to register to vote will walk you through it.
Where to start
New to all this? Here is a simple roadmap through the primary calendar.
- Know the dates. Bookmark this page and the table above. It is the quickest way to see the whole calendar.
- Check your registration. Go to vote.gov, pick your state and confirm you are ready. North Dakota is the one state with no voter registration.
- Learn your state’s primary rules. Whether your state holds an open or closed primary affects who can vote. Confirm the details on vote.gov or with your state election office.
- Watch the field. Follow our candidate tracker as names move from “potential” to “declared.”
- Get involved now. The 2026 midterms are weeks away. Volunteer, canvass, make calls and vote. The work you do this fall builds the movement that carries into 2028.
You can also browse everything we publish on the calendar in our Primaries & Calendar section.
Key takeaways
- The DNC approved the 2028 early window on August 15, 2026: South Carolina (Jan 22), Nevada (Feb 1), New Hampshire (Feb 8), New Mexico (Feb 15), Michigan (Feb 22) and Virginia (Feb 29).
- Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028, and the general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
- Iowa is not in the Democratic early window, though Republicans are expected to keep it first on their calendar.
- No major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 run as of October 5, 2026; everyone named is a potential candidate.
- Still open: New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation law, the convention host city (Boston, Denver or Philadelphia), debates and the GOP calendar.
- The 2026 midterms on November 3 come first, so register, vote and volunteer now.
Last updated October 2026. Dates and candidate news change fast; we update this page as things are announced.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first 2028 Democratic primary?
The DNC’s approved early-window calendar starts with South Carolina on January 22, 2028. Nevada follows on February 1, New Hampshire on February 8, New Mexico on February 15, Michigan on February 22 and Virginia on February 29.
When is Super Tuesday 2028?
Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028. It comes after the six-state early window and is the first big multi-state test of a candidate’s strength.
Is Iowa part of the 2028 Democratic calendar?
Iowa is not in the Democratic early window. Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their own calendar, but the GOP calendar is not final.
Has any Democrat officially announced a 2028 run?
Not as of October 5, 2026. No major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 presidential run. Many names are widely reported as potential candidates, but those are possibilities, not announcements.
Could the 2028 Democratic calendar still change?
It could. New Hampshire state law requires the state to hold the first primary in the nation, which clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes. We update this page whenever something is announced. To make sure you can vote in your state’s primary, check your registration and the rules on vote.gov or with your state election office.