Pritzker loses potential home-state edge in 2028 DNC lineup
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Voters cast their ballots in Chicago in the 2024 primary. Photo: Jacek Boczarski / Anadolu via Getty Images
Illinois won't be among the Democratic Party's early presidential primary states in 2028, despite an aggressive lobbying effort by Gov. JB Pritzker and state Democrats to move the state to the front of the nominating calendar.
Why it matters: Early primary states receive outsized candidate attention, media coverage, campaign spending and political momentum.
- Illinois missing the cut means Pritzker, if he runs for president, won't have the potential advantage of an early home-state primary.
The latest: The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee tentatively approved South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia as the states with the first six Democratic contests of 2028.
- The primary election in Illinois is slated for March 21, 2028.
Flashback: Illinois mounted an aggressive campaign to be included, with Pritzker and state Democratic leaders arguing it better reflected the party's coalition.
What they're saying: "Everything we shared in our pitch is core to who we are as a state," DPI chair Lisa Hernandez tells Axios. "Illinois Democrats are ready to do their part to help nominate the most capable fighter who will take back the White House in 2028. We need to rebuild post-Donald Trump."
Zoom out: Former Vice President Kamala Harris could benefit from the decision to put South Carolina at the top of the calendar.
- Harris, who's eyeing a third presidential run, is leading the potential 2028 Democratic field among Black voters.
Yes, but: Some progressives are fuming at the committee's choice, as South Carolina voters have traditionally chosen moderate Democrats, including former President Joe Biden.
- For example, Sen. Bernie Sanders was heavily defeated in 2016 and 2020.
Between the lines: An Illinois primary later in the calendar doesn't doom a Pritzker candidacy. Modern campaigns rely heavily on fundraising and endorsements.
- Pritzker's personal wealth, fundraising network and national profile mean he wouldn't be as dependent on a home-state advantage as a lesser-known candidate.
Context: For years, the DNC and the Republican National Committee shared primary dates, but that changed after 2020. In 2024, Biden shuffled the state primary lineup, removing Iowa and New Hampshire from their longtime spots atop the Democratic calendar and elevating South Carolina instead.
What's next: The full DNC still has to approve the calendar, and states can still challenge or negotiate their positions.
The bottom line: Illinois spent months making the case that it should help choose the next Democratic nominee. Instead, the state will again be watching from the sidelines while six other states shape the race.