A powerful Democratic committee that will determine which states hold the party’s first nominating contests in the 2028 presidential race voted Saturday to advance 12 states that had applied to be in the early group. Iowa had traditionally held the first caucuses, and New Hampshire has long relished its status as the first-in-the-nation primary. But in 2024, Joe Biden’s allies pressed the Democratic Party to move up South Carolina’s primary ahead of New Hampshire to highlight his strength among Black voters. Democrats in Iowa are also still recovering from a botched 2020 process when results weren’t available for days. Party representatives from the 12 states will be invited at a future date to present their arguments to members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee.

Source: Washington Post February 01, 2026 21:02 UTC