Can Someone Explain WHY South Carolina is the Democrats' 1st Primary in 2028?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Here's a look at how UNsuccessful Dems have been in SC in modern times (per Gemini).

I could see having NC be one of the early states, if you want to appeal to Southern and black demographics. NC went R in all but one of the listed elections, but many by a close margin.

It's hard to justify letting a state that won't vote D have so much power to trip up D candidates.

SC saved Biden's bacon in 2020, but why let them skew the 2028 field?

Year	Republican Candidate (R%)	Democratic Candidate (D%)	Spread / Margin	Winner
1992	George H. W. Bush (48.02%)	Bill Clinton (39.88%)	R +8.14%	Bush (R)
1996	Bob Dole (49.89%)	Bill Clinton (43.85%)	R +6.04%	Dole (R)
2000	George W. Bush (56.84%)	Al Gore (40.90%)	R +15.94%	Bush (R)
2004	George W. Bush (57.98%)	John Kerry (40.90%)	R +17.08%	Bush (R)
2008	John McCain (53.87%)	Barack Obama (44.90%)	R +8.97%	McCain (R)
2012	Mitt Romney (54.56%)	Barack Obama (44.09%)	R +10.47%	Romney (R)
2016	Donald Trump (54.94%)	Hillary Clinton (40.67%)	R +14.27%	Trump (R)
2020	Donald Trump (55.11%)	Joe Biden (43.43%)	R +11.68%	Trump (R)
2024	Donald Trump (58.23%)	Kamala Harris (40.36%)	R +17.87%	Trump (R)

(Note: In 1992 and 1996, independent candidate Ross Perot captured 11.55% and 5.60% of the vote respectively, accounting for the lower combined totals of the major parties in those years.)

 

[Moral]

Democrats have already used it successfully as a firewall against progressives in 2020.

 

[GesterHawk]

Because Charleston is a wonderful city full of rich and vibrant history and lots and lots of ghosts.

 

[scotchtiger]

Democrats have already used it successfully as a firewall against progressives in 2020.

This. They want a state that they know won’t vote for a far left progressive.

Mayor Pete is screwed too because the dem voting base in SC is heavily black, and they won’t vote for a gay man.

 

[dpic73]

Here's a look at how UNsuccessful Dems have been in SC in modern times (per Gemini).

I could see having NC be one of the early states, if you want to appeal to Southern and black demographics. NC went R in all but one of the listed elections, but many by a close margin.

It's hard to justify letting a state that won't vote D have so much power to trip up D candidates.

SC saved Biden's bacon in 2020, but why let them skew the 2028 field?

Year	Republican Candidate (R%)	Democratic Candidate (D%)	Spread / Margin	Winner
1992	George H. W. Bush (48.02%)	Bill Clinton (39.88%)	R +8.14%	Bush (R)
1996	Bob Dole (49.89%)	Bill Clinton (43.85%)	R +6.04%	Dole (R)
2000	George W. Bush (56.84%)	Al Gore (40.90%)	R +15.94%	Bush (R)
2004	George W. Bush (57.98%)	John Kerry (40.90%)	R +17.08%	Bush (R)
2008	John McCain (53.87%)	Barack Obama (44.90%)	R +8.97%	McCain (R)
2012	Mitt Romney (54.56%)	Barack Obama (44.09%)	R +10.47%	Romney (R)
2016	Donald Trump (54.94%)	Hillary Clinton (40.67%)	R +14.27%	Trump (R)
2020	Donald Trump (55.11%)	Joe Biden (43.43%)	R +11.68%	Trump (R)
2024	Donald Trump (58.23%)	Kamala Harris (40.36%)	R +17.87%	Trump (R)

(Note: In 1992 and 1996, independent candidate Ross Perot captured 11.55% and 5.60% of the vote respectively, accounting for the lower combined totals of the major parties in those years.)

Of course it's to skew it towards the moderate candidates, however, if Ossoff runs, it will be good for him as he has a lot of cachet with the black community.

 

[tigres88]

This. They want a state that they know won’t vote for a far left progressive.

Mayor Pete is screwed too because the dem voting base in SC is heavily black, and they won’t vote for a gay man.

Of course it's to skew it towards the moderate candidates, however, if Ossoff runs, it will be good for him as he has a lot of cachet with the black community.

I'd argue these are fairly cynical takes- typically, whatever Democrat nominee wins the SC primary, wins the nomination. Its a good place to gut check whether a nominee will appeal to the masses or not, and yes a lot of it is because of the Black Community here and how they vote.

For instance, Bernie was crushing primaries in the Northeast and then his campaign essentially ended after losing SC. The rest of the southern states followed similar voting patterns.

It's less about stopping far left progressives or gay men or skewing TO moderate candidates, but rather figuring out who is the most electable.

 

[52317Hawk]

Here's a look at how UNsuccessful Dems have been in SC in modern times (per Gemini).

I could see having NC be one of the early states, if you want to appeal to Southern and black demographics. NC went R in all but one of the listed elections, but many by a close margin.

It's hard to justify letting a state that won't vote D have so much power to trip up D candidates.

SC saved Biden's bacon in 2020, but why let them skew the 2028 field?

Year	Republican Candidate (R%)	Democratic Candidate (D%)	Spread / Margin	Winner
1992	George H. W. Bush (48.02%)	Bill Clinton (39.88%)	R +8.14%	Bush (R)
1996	Bob Dole (49.89%)	Bill Clinton (43.85%)	R +6.04%	Dole (R)
2000	George W. Bush (56.84%)	Al Gore (40.90%)	R +15.94%	Bush (R)
2004	George W. Bush (57.98%)	John Kerry (40.90%)	R +17.08%	Bush (R)
2008	John McCain (53.87%)	Barack Obama (44.90%)	R +8.97%	McCain (R)
2012	Mitt Romney (54.56%)	Barack Obama (44.09%)	R +10.47%	Romney (R)
2016	Donald Trump (54.94%)	Hillary Clinton (40.67%)	R +14.27%	Trump (R)
2020	Donald Trump (55.11%)	Joe Biden (43.43%)isaster.	R +11.68%	Trump (R)
2024	Donald Trump (58.23%)	Kamala Harris (40.3d

% and 5.60% of the vote respectively, accounting for the lower combined totals of the major parties in those years.)

Because SoCar has correctly picked the Democrat nominee in forever. Also, because the Democrat party panders to the black population in that state. Also, because the Iowa Democrats ****** up the caucus so badly they have been and after thought since that disaster.

 

[tarheelbybirth1]

Makes more sense than Iowa or NH being first.

 

[Rifler]

It's the Dem's party so they can schedule their primaries as they see fit,.. but South Carolina followed by Nevada is simply a move by the party elite to shut out far left upstarts from gaining an early foothold,.. Just more of the same manipulation from above.

 

[Titanhawk]

Apparently only Iowa, NH and SC care a rats *** about doing this thing so early, and of course diversity of thought is directly proportionate to diversity of race

 

[Anon1750875978]

You could make an argument for lots of States, but the Dems realize the voting blocs they need to appeal to in 2028.

It sure as hell isn't Mississippi North.
Dems know that Hispanics and Blacks are fleeing the GOP and will be an integral part in retaking the WH.
I like this move.

 

[jimneffer]

i don't know why any single state is "first".

seems like the best way to do it is establish 3 or 4 primary days and sort the states among them.