Iowa Democratic Party faces a challenging path to reclaim their leading position in the 2028 primary elections
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is currently in the process of deciding the calendar for the 2028 presidential primaries, with a goal to finalize the schedule by the end of 2026 or 2027. The DNC has emphasized that any state interested in an early primary or caucus date should be allowed to bid and be fairly considered, signaling openness to changing the traditional order.
However, the future of Iowa's role as an early nominating state is uncertain. In 2023, the DNC stripped Iowa of its traditional first-in-the-nation presidential caucus role due to concerns with the caucus format and a desire for a more representative and diverse early calendar. This decision followed controversies in the 2020 and 2024 Iowa Democratic caucuses.
Iowa Democrats, led by chair Rita Hart, are actively campaigning to regain their early nominating status. However, they are facing competition from other states, such as New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, which are also vying for earlier or more prominent spots in the primary schedule.
New Hampshire, for instance, is aggressively seeking to restore its traditional first-in-the-nation primary status on the Democratic side for 2028. South Carolina was chosen by the DNC as the first primary state for 2024, marking a shift towards states with more diverse electorates. Nevada Democrats have also launched a campaign to hold the first-in-the-nation primary or caucus in 2028.
The negotiation over the primary calendar is intensely political and influenced by considerations of race, region, class, and political power within the party. The DNC's goal is to create a more balanced and representative early calendar, marking a departure from the long-standing Iowa-New Hampshire early contest tradition.
Potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates, such as Pete Buttigieg, Ruben Gallego, and Rahm Emanuel, have been visiting Iowa. However, the state's status as an early nominating state has yet to be decided. Some argue that the early states should reflect the diversity of the nation and overlap with swing states Democrats need to win the general election.
Meanwhile, Iowa Democrats, including longtime strategist Pete D'Alessandro, have suggested setting a date for the primary and ignoring any potential consequences from the DNC, including a loss of delegates. Hart, on the other hand, has expressed her focus on winning elections in 2026, including an open governor's seat, a US Senate seat, and the state's four congressional seats.
The final makeup of the 2028 primary calendar will be critical to presidential campaign strategies and candidate traction. The DNC has assured that the process for the 2028 primary calendar will be fair, transparent, and rigorous, with all states having an opportunity to participate.
[1] DNC opens 2028 primary calendar bid to all states [2] Iowa loses voice on DNC committee amid 2028 primary debate [3] South Carolina to host first Democratic primary in 2024 [4] The future of the Iowa caucuses
[1] The media is closely following the DNC's decision-making process for the 2028 presidential primary calendar, as it opens bids to all states and aims to create a more representative and diverse early calendar, marking a departure from the traditional Iowa-New Hampshire early contest tradition.
[2] Policy-and-legislation discussions regarding the 2028 primary calendar have sparked heated debates within the Democratic party, with states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada vying for earlier or more prominent spots, and some advocating for a primary calendar that reflects the nation's diversity and coincides with swing states.
