DNC chaos: States may defy primary calendar as chair faces HR complaint

Iowa Democrats may be watching the national party's internal turmoil with interest as the Democratic National Committee faces a potential revolt from states over its 2028 primary calendar, while DNC Chair Ken Martin deals with a formal HR complaint after allegedly throwing his phone at a junior aide's desk.

CNN senior reporter Edward Isaac-Dovere said Sunday that states like New Hampshire could simply ignore the DNC's primary schedule and hold their elections when they want, adding that 'nobody is scared' of Martin.

'There is the possibility that a state could choose to not follow the DNC here and hold its primary when they want to,' Dovere said on CNN. 'And people saying, Hey, the DNC is broke. They can't do anything to help us anyway. Nobody is scared in any way of Ken Martin as the chair. And so maybe they'll just go and violate it.'

What happened with the 2028 primary calendar?

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday to select South Carolina over Nevada to hold the party's first presidential nominating contest in 2028. The decision maintains a key role for Black voters in the early primary process but sidelines Iowa and New Hampshire, which have traditionally held early contests.

New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley criticized the decision, saying the national party 'learned nothing from 2024.'

'Today's vote shows that many party insiders have learned nothing from 2024,' Buckley said. 'New Hampshire has a proven track record of testing our candidates with a rigorous, fair, and efficient process, yet those qualities did not prevail.'

Could Iowa defy the DNC?

Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus status has been under threat since 2020, when the state's Democratic caucus results were delayed by technical problems. The DNC has since moved to demote Iowa from its early window, a move that has frustrated Iowa Democrats who argue the caucuses provide a unique grassroots testing ground for candidates.

While Iowa law does not require a specific date for the caucuses like New Hampshire's law does for its primary, the state's Democratic Party could theoretically hold an unsanctioned contest. However, the DNC has strengthened penalties for states that go rogue.

What penalties does the DNC have for rogue states?

The DNC voted in June to impose a $270,000 fine on any state that hosts an unsanctioned early contest. The penalties also increase the number of delegates lost from 50% to 100%, including all automatic delegates. Candidates who participate in an unsanctioned contest would be banned from DNC debates.

Martin defended the penalties Friday, saying they are 'the most enforcement mechanisms ever' to ensure compliance.

'If there's a consequence to the candidates, right, the candidates are going to have to decide whether or not they want to lose all their delegates in the first four states,' Martin told reporters. 'Whether they want to lose access to the debate stage. I can't imagine if one of those states moves into the early window and is not sanctioned, that presidential candidates are going to risk it, risk going there.'

What is the HR complaint against Ken Martin?

The New York Times reported Sunday that Martin faced a formal HR complaint after allegedly throwing his phone at a junior aide's desk at DNC headquarters in early July. The Times cited six people familiar with the incident, though none witnessed it firsthand. Accounts differed on how forcefully Martin threw the phone, but the newspaper reported it landed on the aide's desk while Martin was reprimanding the staffer.

NOTUS also reported on DNC turmoil, with a source describing the behavior as 'spiraling.'

'It's just f---ing unacceptable. This is spiraling behavior,' the source told NOTUS.

Could Martin be removed as DNC chair?

Dovere said Martin cannot be kicked out of the position unless he resigns, leaving the party with limited options to change leadership before the 2026 and 2028 elections.

The RNC quickly seized on the chaos, with national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre issuing a statement blasting the DNC.

'The DNC is broke, leaderless, and imploding before America's eyes,' Baldassarre said. 'From states defying the national party to Ken Martin throwing his phone at staffers, it is undeniable that the inmates are running the asylum. While the Democrat Party collapses, Republicans are united, on offense, and focused on electing our candidates up and down the ballot this November.'

What does this mean for Iowa voters?

For Iowa Republicans, the DNC's internal strife reinforces the contrast with the unified GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election. The state's Republican Party has remained solidly behind President Donald Trump, while Democrats nationally struggle with leadership, finances, and a fractured primary process.

Iowa Democrats, meanwhile, face a difficult path to relevance in the presidential nominating process. The state's caucuses have been a political tradition for decades, but the national party's shift away from Iowa has left local Democrats searching for a new role.

The DNC's decision to prioritize South Carolina and Nevada over Iowa and New Hampshire has sparked debate about the party's future direction. Some Iowa Democrats argue the caucuses offer a unique opportunity for retail politics and candidate scrutiny that benefits the party, while national leaders say the process needs to be more inclusive and efficient.

As the 2026 midterms approach, the DNC's internal problems could have real consequences for down-ballot races in Iowa. If the national party remains fractured and underfunded, it may struggle to support state and local candidates against well-organized Republican opposition.

FAQ: What Iowa voters should know about the DNC primary calendar fight

Can Iowa still hold its caucuses first?

Technically yes, but the DNC has imposed severe penalties for any state that holds an unsanctioned early contest. Iowa Democrats would lose all their delegates, and any candidate who campaigns in the state would be banned from DNC debates. This makes a rogue caucus highly unlikely in practice.

What happens to Iowa's delegates if the state defies the DNC?

The state would lose 100% of its delegates, including all automatic delegates. This means Iowa Democrats would have no formal representation at the national convention.

Could New Hampshire actually go rogue?

New Hampshire state law requires its primary to be held at least seven days before any other state holds a 'similar' election. The state defied the DNC in 2024, and while the DNC initially withheld delegates, they were eventually restored. Some analysts believe New Hampshire could do the same in 2028, especially given the current weakness of the DNC leadership.

How does this affect the 2026 midterms in Iowa?

The DNC's internal chaos could hurt Democratic fundraising and organizing efforts nationwide, including in Iowa. Republicans are already highlighting the contrast between a united GOP and a fractured Democratic Party as they campaign for the 2026 elections.