North Carolina Democrats push for early 2028 primary
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North Carolina Democrats are lobbying to make the state one of the first presidential primary contests in 2028, arguing the state reflects the rest of the U.S., given its growing and diverse population.
Why it matters: If selected, North Carolina could hold a large influence over which candidate ultimately secures the nomination. It could also attract tens of millions of dollars of investments into statewide campaigns.
Driving the news: North Carolina is one of 12 states allowed to bid to be one of the first primary states in 2028.
- Anderson Clayton, chair of the N.C. Democratic Party, said she will make the official pitch to the Democratic National Committee in the coming weeks. She wants North Carolina to go first in the nation, as Iowa traditionally did for decades.
Zoom in: Clayton told the DNC for North Carolina that the state can be the best stress test for a future presidential nominee.
- The state's diverse population, with sizable Black and Hispanic populations, as well as both a rural voting bloc and an increasingly urban one, makes the state more representative of the nation as a whole.
- "I don't have anything against Iowa and New Hampshire," Clayton told Axios. "I just think that the Democratic Party has got to get smart about where the future of it lies. And, to me, that is the South, and the South has been the least invested in by the National Party over the last 20 years."
Yes, but: In North Carolina, unlike many of its competing states, Democrats will need the help of Republicans to win a spot before Super Tuesday. Other southern states like Georgia and Tennessee would also need state legislative approval, NBC News reported.
- That's because the state legislature would need to approve changing primary dates. Clayton said that she will likely need a commitment from the legislature by May if the state has a chance to move its primary up.
- Clayton said her pitch to Republicans is a financial one. Communities throughout the state, she said, would benefit from an influx of campaign and media attention, like Des Moines, Iowa, has in the past.
Between the lines: The Republican-led legislature is likely to only do that if it benefits Republicans to move their primary up in the state. They are also not likely to give the state Democratic Party any wins, either.
What they're saying: "The topic has not been seriously discussed at the legislature or with any Democratic Party officials," said Demi Dowdy, a spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall.
- A spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger did not respond to a request for comment.
- The N.C. Republican Party was noncommittal on the topic, with a spokesperson saying, "North Carolina's presidential primary should matter given our state's population growth and success thanks to Republican-led policies."
What's next: North Carolina Democrats will present their case to the DNC in May.