At the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in Austin, Texas, members approved the order of states for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary calendar. South Carolina would go first, marking a shift from Iowa and New Hampshire, which traditionally were the first two states. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart criticized the calendar saying it "fundamentally misses the mark" and is a "product of broken promises." South Carolina DNC member Christale Spain welcomed the decision, calling the calendar "bold" and "fearless" and saying it reflects a commitment to "Black and brown communities." Other speakers included Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who said it was "our generation's time to answer history's call" and urged Democrats to embrace a renewed sense of boldness. DNC Chair Ken Martin in his remarks said the new calendar "truly represents our party and our values" due to the wide range in demographics of voters in each state.