For decades, the Iowa caucuses opened the presidential race. In 2028, Democrats are turning the page. The party’s early window has a new lineup, and Iowa is not in it.
That does not mean Iowa disappears from the political conversation. Republicans are expected to keep it first on their side. Here is what changed, what did not, and how you can get ready for the Iowa caucus 2028 season, wherever you live.
Quick answer: The DNC approved its 2028 early-window calendar on August 15, 2026, and Iowa is not part of it. Democrats will start in South Carolina on January 22, 2028. Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their calendar, but the GOP schedule is not final.
What did the DNC decide about Iowa?
At its summer meeting in Austin, Texas, on August 15, 2026, the DNC voted to approve the 2028 early-window calendar. Six states made the cut. Iowa did not.
You can read the party’s announcement on democrats.org under the title “DNC Votes to Officially Select Early States for 2028.” The calendar is set for Democrats, and the early window now looks very different from the one many voters grew up with.
For a full running list of dates, see our 2028 Democratic primary calendar.
The 2028 Democratic early window, state by state
Here is the lineup the DNC approved. Every date below comes straight from the August 15, 2026 decision.
| Date | State |
|---|---|
| January 22, 2028 | South Carolina |
| February 1, 2028 | Nevada |
| February 8, 2028 | New Hampshire |
| February 15, 2028 | New Mexico |
| February 22, 2028 | Michigan |
| February 29, 2028 | Virginia |
| March 7, 2028 | Super Tuesday |
Notice the mix. You have a Southern state with a large Black electorate, a Western state with a big Latino population, a New England state, a Southwestern state, a Great Lakes battleground and a fast-growing Mid-Atlantic state.
That variety is the point. Many Democrats argue the early window should reflect the party’s real coalition. That is our view, and it is the heart of why this lineup looks the way it does.
The first voters in a presidential race shape which candidates survive, so who gets to go first matters.
Why Democrats left Iowa out
We want to be careful here. The DNC’s decision speaks for itself, and we will not put words in anyone’s mouth. What we can lay out is the broader debate that has surrounded Iowa for years, framed as our opinion.
The case against an Iowa-first calendar
Critics have long argued that a single, relatively small state should not hold so much power over who becomes the nominee. They point out that Iowa’s population is far less diverse than the Democratic electorate as a whole.
Caucuses also ask more of voters than a primary. You show up at a set time, you spend an evening, and you may have to publicly stand with a candidate. That can be hard for shift workers, parents, caregivers and people with disabilities.
What Democrats want from an early state
In our view, a good early state tests candidates in front of the voters who power the party’s wins. It also gives candidates a real reason to build organizations, hire local staff and listen. The six states in the new window each offer a different version of that test.
If you want a closer look at the opening contest, read our guide to the South Carolina Democratic primary 2028.
Will Republicans still hold the Iowa caucus in 2028?
Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their 2028 calendar, according to RNC reports from September 2026. Note the wording: “expected.” The GOP calendar is not final, and we will update this page when it is.
So the Iowa caucus 2028 story has two tracks. On the Republican side, Iowa is expected to stay at the front of the line. On the Democratic side, Iowa is not in the early window at all.
The Republican field is also wide open. No Republican has declared yet. Names that have been widely reported as potential candidates include JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz and Brian Kemp. None has announced a run.
Calendars are rules, and rules are choices. Democrats made theirs in public, and every voter can weigh in.
The New Hampshire wrinkle to watch
New Hampshire is on the Democratic calendar for February 8, 2028. But state law there requires New Hampshire to hold the first primary in the nation. That clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes.
What could that mean in practice? We do not know yet, and we are not going to guess. If New Hampshire moves, other dates could be affected, and we will update the page the moment something is official. For the full background, see our upcoming explainer on the New Hampshire primary 2028.
Why the other early states matter
With Iowa out of the Democratic window, voters in the six early states carry a lot of weight. Here is a quick look at what each brings to the table, and where to read more as our guides go live.
- South Carolina (Jan 22): The leadoff slot. See our South Carolina primary guide.
- Nevada (Feb 1): A diverse Western state. Our Nevada Democratic primary 2028 guide is coming.
- New Mexico (Feb 15): Moves up the calendar. Read about it in our New Mexico primary 2028 explainer.
- Michigan (Feb 22): A major Great Lakes battleground. See the Michigan Democratic primary 2028 page.
- Virginia (Feb 29): The newest early state. Our Virginia Democratic primary 2028 guide is on the way.
After those six come the big multi-state contests. Check our Super Tuesday 2028 guide for March 7, 2028.
Who might run? Nobody has declared yet
As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 presidential run. That is important, because plenty of headlines make it sound otherwise.
Widely reported potential Democratic candidates include Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock, Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Chris Van Hollen and Ro Khanna. Again, these are potential candidates, not declared ones.
Want to go deeper? Our 2028 Democratic candidates tracker follows each name, and we have profiles on Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro and Kamala Harris. Curious about the invisible primary that happens before anyone announces? Watch for our guide on when 2028 presidential campaigns start.
What this means for you, even if you do not live in an early state
It is easy to feel like the early states have all the power. But you have more influence than you might think, and the work starts now, not in 2028.
First, the 2026 midterms come before any of this. They are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with all 435 House seats, about a third of the Senate and 36 governors on the ballot. What happens then shapes the political landscape heading into the 2028 race. Start with our 2026 midterm elections guide.
Second, primaries have rules that vary by state. Some let you vote regardless of party and some do not. Look for our explainer on open vs closed primaries, and always confirm your state’s rules with your state election office.
Take action: Check that you are registered at your current address today. Go to vote.gov, pick your state, and follow the steps. Then text a friend and ask them to do the same. Our guide on how to check your voter registration status takes just a few minutes.
How to get registered and involved
Every state’s official rules, deadlines and online registration links are on vote.gov. You can find your state at an address like https://vote.gov/register/ohio or https://vote.gov/register/new-york.
Deadlines differ from state to state, so confirm yours on vote.gov or with your state election office. Same-day registration exists in many states, but the rules are not the same everywhere. North Dakota has no voter registration at all.
For a state-by-state walkthrough, read how to register to vote. Then look at the bigger picture in our 2028 presidential election hub.
Want to see how it all fits together? Browse everything in the Primaries & Calendar section.
The big dates to keep on your calendar
- November 3, 2026: Midterm elections.
- January 22, 2028: South Carolina opens the Democratic calendar.
- March 7, 2028: Super Tuesday.
- August 7-10, 2028: Democratic National Convention. Finalist host cities are Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, and the final pick is expected later in 2026. See our convention host city guide.
- November 7, 2028: General election.
- January 20, 2029: Inauguration.
For more, see our 2028 election key dates page.
Key takeaways
- The DNC approved its 2028 early window on August 15, 2026, and Iowa is not in it.
- Democrats begin in South Carolina on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia.
- Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first, but the GOP calendar is not final.
- New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation state law clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes.
- No major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 run as of October 5, 2026.
- You can register, check your status and volunteer now, starting with vote.gov.
Last updated October 2026. Dates and candidate news change fast; we update this page as things are announced.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iowa part of the 2028 Democratic early window?
No. The DNC approved its 2028 early-window calendar on August 15, 2026, and Iowa is not on it. The early states are South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia.
Will there be an Iowa caucus in 2028?
Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their 2028 calendar, according to RNC reports from September 2026, but the GOP calendar is not final. Democrats are not including Iowa in their early window, so any Democratic activity there would not carry early-state status.
When is the first 2028 Democratic contest?
South Carolina goes first 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. Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028.
Why does New Hampshire matter in the calendar fight?
New Hampshire state law requires it to hold the first primary in the nation. That clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes and for how the state handles its February 8 date this time.
Has any Democrat declared a 2028 run?
As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared. Plenty of names are widely reported as potential candidates, but none has announced. We update our candidate tracker as news breaks.