Michigan Democrats approved making a case for an early 2028 presidential primary

Angela Brake/States Newsroom

The Michigan Democratic Party has been formally approved to make its case to the national party on why it should receive one of the prestigious primary nominating contests that will set up a regional contest with other states, including Iowa and Illinois, on the 2028 presidential primary calendar.

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Regulations Committee formally approved the state party leaders’ request on Saturday. Who met in Puerto Rico to review bids from 12 states for the “early window” — the period before the Super Tuesdays when influential nominating contests are held. Michigan’s party is seeking to keep its presidential primary in the middle of early contests, arguing the time will help test candidates in a key battleground state that mirrors the broader Democratic electorate.

Ma a statement Along with the filing, Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said the early primary in the Great Lakes state would provide a meaningful test for candidates with voters critical to winning in November 2028.

“Michigan is a perfect candidate to be in the lineup of early nominating contests, and it’s important that our new national calendar for electing the next president includes Michigan in an early position,” Hertel said.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri also supported the bid, emphasizing Michigan’s demographic diversity and political importance.

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In all, the committee reviewed applications from 12 states—including Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia—with plans to ultimately recommend a slate of five initial nomination contenders, including four options from each state. State.

In Puerto Rico, DNC members discussed Michigan’s bid with other states, debating logistical and strategic factors that could shape the 2028 calendar. Questions were raised about Michigan’s media marketing costs and how easily candidates could campaign to its large and diverse electorate.

“Because it’s such an expensive and fragmented market that’s not so widespread in other states, it can be incredibly expensive for candidates, possibly restricting them from diversifying investments across the country or reducing resources for future contests,” said Shad Murib, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party.

Barry Goodman, an attorney and partner at the Goodman Acres law firm in Southfield and an elected official with the Michigan Democratic Party, said Michigan is well-positioned to help competing candidates win the White House in 2028.

“What we love about Michigan is that it’s the most diverse battleground state in the country,” Acker said. “It’s clearly purple. It went for Trump. It went against Trump. Now it’s gone for Trump again.”

Acker also said state election law currently sets the presidential primary on the fourth Tuesday of February, which would be February 22, 2028, and thus fall within the primary window being sought. Changing that date would require bipartisan legislative action and the governor’s signature. However, Michigan’s legislature is divided, with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats holding a narrow majority in the Senate.

“The Republicans are not going to help us move out of this early window. So, we’re in the early window, whether people like it or not,” Acker said.

The DNC’s primary contest discussions are part of a broader effort to reshape the Democratic nominating calendar after the 2024 election cycle, when the party elevates South Carolina and other states ahead of traditional primary contests like Iowa and New Hampshire.

No decisions have been announced on which states will be included in the initial 2028 window. The next meeting of the committee will be held in April in New Orleans.