The 2028 presidential primary calendar: from South Carolina to Super Tuesday
The Democratic early states are set, the Republican order is set but not the dates, and Super Tuesday lands March 7. Every date we know, with sources, and what is still pending.
The 2028 presidential primaries start in South Carolina. Under the calendar the Democratic National Committee approved on August 15, 2026, South Carolina votes first on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia. Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028, and the general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Republicans are expected to start with Iowa again, but the Republican National Committee has not formally set its calendar.
The 2028 Democratic early-state calendar
The DNC voted to approve the early window at its summer meeting in August 2026, after its Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended it in July.
| Order | State | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | Saturday, 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 |
Iowa was left out of the window, and Iowa Democrats have said they will revisit their caucuses after the 2026 midterms. Georgia applied for an early slot but was not selected. The DNC also raised its penalties for states that try to jump ahead of their assigned dates.
Why South Carolina matters
South Carolina has a large Black electorate, and it is the first real test of whether a Democratic candidate can win Black voters and working families in the South. That is why candidates are likely to spend serious time there in 2027: town halls, church visits, HBCU campuses, local endorsements and earned media.
For campaigns, that means:
- Local relationships come first. Endorsements from state legislators, mayors, faith leaders and county parties carry real weight.
- Events drive coverage. Candidate visits, rallies and community events produce the photos and video that feed both local news and social media.
- The calendar is short. Nevada votes ten days after South Carolina, so momentum has to be built and used fast.
Leo Operations already works in South Carolina with legislators, local officials and faith leaders. See our South Carolina work.
The Republican calendar
As of fall 2026, the Republican National Committee had not formally set its 2028 calendar, though party leaders have said Iowa is all but certain to go first, followed by New Hampshire. The calendar tracker Frontloading HQ lists the Iowa caucuses on January 3 and the New Hampshire primary on January 11, 2028, but labels both tentative.
Super Tuesday: March 7, 2028
Super Tuesday is the first Tuesday in March, when the largest group of states votes on a single day. Based on current state law, Frontloading HQ projects these states for March 7, 2028:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and, for Republicans, Virginia.
A few cautions:
- Virginia moves to February 29 for Democrats under the new early-state calendar.
- Colorado could move to March 14 or March 21.
- These are projections. States can change their dates by passing new laws, and the parties can change their rules. Confirm with each state's election office before you plan around a date.
Super Tuesday is where national campaigns need scale: paid media in several large markets at once, field operations in many states and a constant stream of content for social media.
Florida: March 21, 2028
Florida law sets the presidential preference primary on the third Tuesday in March of a presidential election year (Fla. Stat. 103.101). In 2028 that is March 21. Florida is a closed-primary state, so only voters registered with a party can vote in that party's presidential primary.
Tennessee: March 7, 2028
Tennessee holds its presidential primary on the first Tuesday in March under state law, which puts it on Super Tuesday, March 7, 2028. The 2024 Tennessee presidential primary was March 5, the first Tuesday that year. Tennessee's August primary for state and congressional races is a separate election later in the year.
How delegates work
Primaries and caucuses award delegates, not just wins. On the Democratic side, a candidate generally needs at least 15% of the vote statewide or in a congressional district to win any pledged delegates. The DNC kept its existing rules on this point for 2028. The total number of delegates, and the number needed to win the nomination, has not been published yet for either party.
The 15% threshold matters for strategy: a candidate who finishes third with 14% can leave a state with nothing, while a candidate who clears 15% in several congressional districts can collect delegates even without winning the state.
The conventions
- Republican National Convention: Houston, at the Toyota Center, chosen in 2023. Exact dates have not been announced.
- Democratic National Convention: The host city has not been chosen. In August 2026 the DNC named Boston, Denver and Philadelphia as finalists for a convention planned for August 7 to 10, 2028.
Who is running?
As of November 1, 2026, no major Democratic or Republican figure had formally declared a 2028 presidential campaign. Several prominent Democrats have said they will decide after the 2026 midterms. Expect announcements to begin in early 2027, and expect the first candidate visits to South Carolina soon after.
What this means for campaigns and organizations
You don't have to be a presidential campaign for this calendar to matter.
- Down-ballot candidates in early states will share the airwaves, venues and volunteers with presidential campaigns. Plan your own media and events around that.
- Advocacy groups and nonprofits can use candidate visits to put their issues in front of national press.
- Churches, HBCUs and community organizations in South Carolina, Nevada and the other early states should expect requests to host candidates. Have a plan for photos, video and livestreams before the first call comes.
- Every campaign needs a content operation. In a presidential cycle, attention is the scarcest resource. Our guide to political social media in 2028 covers how to build one.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first 2028 presidential primary? For Democrats, South Carolina on January 22, 2028. For Republicans, Iowa goes first, with a tentative date of January 3, 2028 that has not been made official.
When is Super Tuesday 2028? Tuesday, March 7, 2028.
When is Florida's 2028 presidential primary? March 21, 2028, the third Tuesday in March, under current Florida law.
When is Tennessee's 2028 presidential primary? March 7, 2028, on Super Tuesday.
When is the 2028 presidential election? Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
Is Iowa still first for Democrats? No. Iowa is not in the Democratic early window for 2028. Iowa still goes first on the Republican side.
Leo Operations is a Black-owned campaign, media and marketing firm based in Nashville, with work in Tennessee, South Carolina and across the country. We provide campaign strategy, field organizing, photo and video, websites and social media. Start a conversation with us about 2028.