Minneapolis (AP) – Democratic National Committee We are seriously considering scrambling the party’s 2028 presidential reserve calendar. And South Carolina – The state that hosted a 2024 Democratic beginner contest is far from the rocks to the first time.
This is according to several members of DNC’s new leadership team. Chairman Ken Martin.
“The idea that we’re just pushing the same old calendar onto a kind of rubber is unlikely to happen,” Martin told The Associated Press.
Political insiders are closely followed by the orders of the state-by-state presidential nomination process of each party will have a major impact on the economy of the states involved, candidates and, ultimately, the nation’s economy.
Changes may come even if they are Next presidential primary At least, it’s already begun, unofficially. The half-dozen presidential outlook has already begun early pilgrimages to the states that last time they put their calendars on top: among the chiefs of South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa.
Candidates may need to modify their travel schedule.
Why the “early state” changes
Democrats and Republicans have the power to change calendars every four years, but the same batches in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada have dominated the process for decades.
The Democrats, led by former President Joe Biden, have given their opening positions in 2024 in place of Iowa and New Hampshire, adding Georgia and Michigan to the so-called early window.
But now, a new group of party officials are managing the calendar process. Earlier this year, Martin replaced former South Carolina chair Jaime Harrison. It is also new to the committee that 32 of the 49 members of the Strong Rules and Bylaws Committee vote for a new calendar before moving on to everyone in the party.
“We’re not tied to the way we’ve always done things,” said Shasti Conrad, DNC vice-chairman.
“The priority for me is that these states have a big community of colour,” Conrad said.
Can I replace it with South Carolina?
Democrat officials gathered in Martin’s hometown of Minnesota. This summer meetingthere have been some private conversations about whether South Carolina is certainly a Republican state, and whether it should be replaced by another southern state that is considered a swing state in the general election. North Carolina and Georgia are considered early favourites if changes are made.
Martin himself said South Carolina could lose its top spot. But he expressed confidence that states with a large black population, if not South Carolina, will be featured prominently in the next nomination process for Democrats.
“Obviously, the most reliable Democratic district is black voters, and they play a prominent role in our candidate selection,” Martin said. “And make sure there’s definitely a mix that fighting candidates with African American voters, whether in South Carolina or other states, is really important to help you win in November.”
The state is lobbying for spots
This week, several state leaders hoping to assert the opening slot have begun filing lawsuits in private conversations with influential DNC members. Others began to speak publicly. Officials in Nevada and Iowa have recently defended them more publicly.
The Nevada Democrats released a memo Wednesday claiming that if the party is “serious about regaining working-class voters,” they should win the top position in 2028.
“Given the challenges facing us to rebuild our party brand, we cannot begin the process of a college-educated, white or less competitive state that will overwhelmingly select party candidates,” wrote Hillary Barrett, executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party.
Harrison said he will “fight like hell” to ensure South Carolina will stay first in 2028.
“If you look at all the presidential primary elections we’ve been doing over the last 20 years, South Carolina has been a better predictor than Nevada, Iowa or New Hampshire in terms of picking,” Harrison said. “That’s because our people are not ideological. … No, the majority of black voters are not conservative or progressive. They are practical.”
Harrison pointed out that during South Carolina’s first run in 2024 there was no real competition against Biden.
“If you say you don’t even give South Carolina the chance to get first in at least one open major process, then I think it’s a big slap in the face, right?” he said.
What’s next in the process?
The discussion will not be decided this year.
The Rules and Bylaws Committee will hold a meeting in September to formalize how the calendar selection process works. Martin said the series of meetings will continue into fall, winter and into next spring.
Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democrat, is one of the few veterans who hold seats in rules and bylaws, and said New Hampshire is being held by state law to hold the country’s opening presidential election, regardless of the DNC’s wishes.
Of course, New Hampshire was against the DNC’s 2024 calendar. It’s in Iowa recently He threatened to be fraudulent Also, if you skip again in 2028.
“Everyone has the opportunity to make their point,” Buckley said. “New states, interesting states will make their point, and I believe this process is fair.”
