DNC boots Iowa from early 2028 primary calendar, Iowa Dems weigh going rogue

Iowa Democrats are weighing whether to defy the national party after the Democratic National Committee formally approved a 2028 presidential primary calendar that leaves the Hawkeye State out of the early voting lineup for a second consecutive election cycle.

The DNC voted Friday at its August meeting in Austin, Texas, to approve the calendar, which places South Carolina first, Nevada second, and New Hampshire third. Iowa was left off the early calendar entirely, a decision Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart called a “slap in the face” to Iowa and the Midwest.

Why the DNC changed the primary calendar

Party leaders argue the new lineup better reflects the Democratic coalition. The calendar also includes New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia in the early window, expanding the early process from five states to six.

“The DNC has delivered a 2028 nominating calendar that truly represents our party and our values, and will help us retake the White House in 2028,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a press release after the vote.

Democratic strategist and rules committee member Maria Cardona praised the calendar for uplifting Black voters, Latino voters, AAPI voters, Native American voters, labor, military families, and working-class voters.

But Iowa Democrats see it differently. Hart told the Austin meeting that the committee “lied” to Iowa when it promised an open process, and she warned that excluding a rural Midwestern state is a strategic mistake.

“I’m deeply concerned that our party has not learned from past mistakes. We need a Midwest and truly rural state to be among the first four states if we hope to build sustainable and lasting Democratic majorities that enact real and meaningful change,” Hart said.

Iowa’s unique position in 2028

Hart emphasized that 2028 is a critical year for Iowa Democrats. The state will have at least three Democratic members of Congress, and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s seat is up for grabs. Grassley, 92, has served Iowa in Congress for more than 50 years.

“An opportunity to flip Chuck Grassley’s Senate seat in 2028 gives the other side a giant media bullhorn that we abdicate with this calendar,” Hart said.

Iowa has hosted the first-in-the-nation caucuses for decades, a tradition that has given the state outsized influence in presidential politics. Republicans will still hold their first-in-the-nation caucus in Iowa in 2028, Hart noted.

Will Iowa and New Hampshire go rogue?

State lawmakers ultimately set primary dates, and they can legally choose their own dates, but not without party-imposed penalties. The DNC’s rules committee strengthened those penalties in June, including a $270,000 fine and the possibility of losing up to 100% of a state’s representation at the 2028 Democratic National Convention.

Martin issued a stark warning to any state that might defy the calendar.

“This is a calendar this party is going to actually protect. And unlike the past, we’re not going to be a wink and a nod, ‘we’ll let you do what you want, and you can get away with it.’ If they decide to do that, they know what the consequences are. We’ve been very clear,” Martin said.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley called the decision “disappointing” and defended his state’s tradition. New Hampshire state law explicitly protects the state’s first-in-the-nation primary status.

Hart said after the July committee meeting that Iowa Democrats would “have more to say after November,” when the 2026 primary season wraps up. A spokesperson for the Iowa party reiterated that position after Friday’s vote.

What this means for Iowa voters

For Iowa voters, the practical impact is significant. Early primary states attract more candidate visits, campaign spending, and media attention. Being left out of the early window means Iowa Democrats will have less influence in choosing the 2028 nominee.

It also means Iowa’s Republican caucus will draw the spotlight, giving the state’s GOP voters a prominent national platform.

The decision leaves Iowa Democrats with a choice: comply with the national calendar or set their own dates and face penalties. Either way, the fight over Iowa’s role in presidential politics is far from over.

Contributing: Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.