Updated July 14, 2026
Democratic Early state

2028 Democratic primary in South Carolina

South Carolina has traditionally held one of the first contests of the nominating season, which gives its 2028 Democratic primary or caucus outsized early influence. South Carolina has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections (it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024), so the Democratic primary here is mainly about national delegates rather than a likely November target. The official 2028 Democratic primary date and the calendar order are not finalized yet.

South Carolina at a glance

  • Electoral votes9
  • RegionSouth
  • CapitalColumbia
  • General-election leanSafe Republican
  • 2024 resultTrump (R)
  • 2020 resultTrump (R)
  • 2016 resultTrump (R)
  • Calendar positionTraditionally early

See the South Carolina general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates South Carolina Democratic voters would choose among:

Full field and process on the 2028 Democratic primary hub.

Why South Carolina matters in the 2028 Democratic race

South Carolina leans Republican in November, so the Democratic primary here is less about a fall target and more about adding to a candidate's national delegate count on the road to the nomination.

Recent presidential results in South Carolina: it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Compare the 2028 nomination odds and the latest 2028 primary polls.

Keep exploring

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Quick answers

South Carolina 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in South Carolina?
The official 2028 date has not been set. South Carolina has traditionally voted early in the calendar. Check back as the calendar is confirmed.
How does South Carolina usually vote in presidential elections?
South Carolina voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Safe Republican for 2028. See the full South Carolina general-election outlook for detail.
Who is running in the 2028 Democratic primary?
As of June 2026 no candidate has formally declared. The most-discussed Democratic contenders include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris.
How many delegates does South Carolina have?
Exact 2028 delegate counts are set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) closer to the election. As a rough guide, states with more delegates than South Carolina (9 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.
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