"Pete Buttigieg stays out of fight over NH primary"

Former Transportation secretary and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was in New Hampshire late last on the hustings for Democrats running for office this year in the Granite state. Adam Sexton at WMUR out of Manchester got the secretary on record about New Hampshire's place in the national party's plans for an early calendar lineup for 2028:

Sexton: 

You were very diplomatic during the administration in terms of the debates at the DNC about New Hampshire first-in-the-nation status. The Granite state wants it back now. Are you going to be on New Hampshire's side and say New Hampshire should go first? 

Buttigieg:

I respect that I am not one of the people who gets to make the rules or make those decisions. What I will say is that campaigning in New Hampshire made me, I think, a better public servant. The conversations that I had, the way that the size, the scale and the civic spirit of the state really forces people on the national stage to stop and pay attention to things on a more immediate human scale. I think that’s a very healthy thing to have in our politics."

--

Noteworthy: Look, clearly I fell prey to the headline to this one. There really is not a whole lot there. Buttigieg was, to borrow Sexton's word, diplomatic in response to the question about being on "New Hampshire's side" in the 2028 calendar discussions. And not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but a couple of things:

1. Buttigieg's nonresponse is, in and of itself, notable. It may have been missing in 2024, but one does not have to go very far back in time before that to find ample evidence of candidates falling over themselves to defend New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status while campaigning there. Buttigieg did not, well, pander in his brief answer to Sexton's question. Instead, he deferred to the process the DNC has laid out for deciding on the early calendar for 2028. The DNC may not have kept New Hampshire from being the (unsanctioned) first contest in 2024 and it may not have kept all candidates out of the state then, but the change in process has kept candidates -- candidate, singular, I suppose -- from reflexively defending New Hampshire traditional status. And again, that is a noteworthy change.
2. Note also that Buttigieg plays up the virtues of retail politics, and specifically how the New Hampshire primary fills that role (or did so during his time campaigning there during the 2020 cycle). That is something that is a plank in the Rules and Bylaws Committee's criteria for the states vying for early 2028 slots on the calendar (see Section III of the Request for Proposals). However, at least some folks on the committee are questioning the value of in-primary-season retail politics in an ever-changing presidential nomination campaign landscape. How the committee deals with that will go a long way toward determining New Hampshire's place in the early part of the 2028 calendar. 

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

Some additional thoughts on the Democrats' recent 2028 primary calendar meeting 

Learning, incentives, appearance versus reality and the limits of the national parties in calendar crafting

"S. Carolina Dems deploy Biden as they seek early primary"

Alex Thompson at Axios looks into the latest twist in the South Carolina Democrats' efforts to retain first-in-the-nation status for 2028:

"South Carolina Democrats are enlisting former President Biden to try to save the state's place as the first contest in the party's next presidential primary."

"Christale Spain, chair of South Carolina's Democratic Party, has been inviting members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee to the Biden reception as part of the lobbying effort.

"'This intimate gathering offers a rare opportunity to spend time with the former president,' Spain wrote to one committee member."

--

Noteworthy: It really is not clear at this point whether Biden inserting himself -- or being inserted by South Carolina Democrats -- will help sway members of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee as the panel continues to consider the states that will make up the party's early state line up on the 2028 presidential primary calendar. An argument could be made that it may prove persuasive to some members of the committee and backfire with others. 

Biden or not, the biggest feather Palmetto state Democrats have in their caps for the 2028 calendar process is the fact that the South Carolina presidential primary remains among the most, if not the most, mobile piece on the calendar board. The state funds and runs the primary but the state parties decide the date on which the election will fall. Importantly, any decision does not have to go through any state legislature or any other state governmental office first. 

The South Carolina primary, then, could be easily moved into any early position, including first-in-the-nation, or could just as easily be moved out of the early lineup altogether. But as of now, while there is a lot of competition from states vying to be the southern state with some representation on the early calendar, few yet have the ability to get into position that South Carolina Democrats have.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

Now we know which states they are looking at 

Some thoughts on the 2028 Democratic primary calendar process now that the deadline for state parties to apply with the DNC has come and gone

Idaho legislators again try to resurrect presidential primary in the Gem state

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee has introduced legislation to reestablish a separate state-funded presidential primary. H 638 would reinstitute the state-run election and schedule it for Super Tuesday (the first Tuesday in March), two and a half months earlier than the separate primaries for other offices in the Gem state.

This 2026 effort comes three years after Idaho legislators eliminated the separate presidential primary -- then scheduled for the second Tuesday in March -- ahead of the voting phase of the 2024 presidential nomination process.

Both parties in Idaho caucused in lieu of a primary in 2024.

--

Noteworthy: A year after eliminating the separate presidential primary, legislators in Boise returned in 2024 to bring the primary back for future cycles. Competing plans sponsored by the Senate State Affairs Committee to reestablish the presidential primary and consolidate it with the primaries for other offices in either April or May (the position the Idaho primary has traditionally occupied) passed the upper chamber but went nowhere on the other side of the capitol. 

Those efforts differ from the 2026 bill brought by the House State Affairs Committee. That legislation proposes bringing back and funding a separate presidential primary election in early March. The price tag was a significant talking point during the elimination effort in 2023 and is often raised in Republican-controlled legislatures across the country during presidential primary bill consideration. It will likely be a topic of discussion if not a roadblock in Boise should H 638 progress during this current session.

--

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

The 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar Plus 

Tracking the evolution of the timeline of delegate selection events that will determine the next presidential nominees

Senate companion bill would also see Rhode Island presidential primary shifted to Super Tuesday

The Rhode Island state House bill to move the presidential primary in the Ocean state from April to the first Tuesday in March now has a companion in the upper chamber. 

S 2491, with language matching that of the version introduced in January in the lower chamber, would push the presidential primary currently scheduled for the fourth Tuesday in April up seven weeks to Super Tuesday.

--

Noteworthy: The lead sponsor of the Senate version will also be responsible for shepherding the bill through the committee he chairs. Senator Matthew LaMountain (D-31st, Warwick) not only chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee but is among a list of co-sponsors that includes the entire leadership of the Democratic majority in the chamber, save the president of the Senate. That may ultimately reveal nothing about the bill's trajectory, but it may also indicate how much of a priority this move is within Democratic circles in the state. 

The House version was sponsored by a former chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party. 

--

Related:

2/9/26: Rhode Island legislation eyeing Super Tuesday presidential primary

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

The 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar Plus 

Tracking the evolution of the timeline of delegate selection events that will determine the next presidential nominees

Companion Super Tuesday presidential primary bill working through Kansas Senate

Kansas decision makers reinstated the state's once dormant, and then dead, state-run presidential primary for the 2024 cycle. But it was a one-off. The primary was codified but resurrected for just 2024. However, the experiment seemed to have worked because the major parties in the state preferred the primary to state party-run caucuses and are back, post-2024, advocating for the primary to return permanently in 2028 and beyond. 

The bill that the parties requested be introduced during the 2026 session of the Kansas legislature has cleared the initial committee stage on the House side. Under the provisions of that legislation, the presidential primary in the Sunflower state would be reestablished and scheduled for Super Tuesday, the first Tuesday in March in 2028 and every four years thereafter. And while that may ultimately be the legislative vehicle that brings the change to fruition, there is also a carbon-copy companion bill currently awaiting committee action in the state Senate. 

The House version has seen a technical amendment to a section not affecting the primary timing. If it passes the House, then that change will have to be reconciled with the bill in the upper chamber (or the House version advanced there).

--

Noteworthy: Last year, the Kansas legislature passed and saw enacted a bill that would create a special election date on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. FHQ wondered at the time if that was meant as a potential placeholder for a future presidential primary. It seems, in retrospect, that it was. But now, both 2026 bills cited above amend that placement even further, striking "after the first Monday" from current law. That would avoid the problem of the Kansas presidential primary not falling on Super Tuesday in years when March begins on a Tuesday. 

--

Related: 

1/28/26: "KS GOP, Democratic leaders agree on state-run [presidential] primary"

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

"Missing an opportunity," senator defers latest attempt to establish a presidential primary in Hawaii

Hawaii state Sen. Karl Rhoads (D-13th, Dowsett Highlands) has been attempting to pass legislation in the Aloha state to establish a state-run presidential primary since 2023. His bill that year to create a presidential primary election and schedule it for Super Tuesday passed the state Senate and later an amended version passed the state House with a new date: the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April. 

That change was never reconciled in the state Senate and the amended bill died on the final day of the 2023 legislative session. But Rhoads has kept the idea of an early April presidential primary in Hawaii alive in subsequent years. Legislation was introduced in both 2024 and 2025 and languished in committee both times.

However, Rhoads has returned in 2026 to try again. Legislation functionally similar to the where the previous three versions ended up was introduced at the start of the legislative session in Honolulu. But once again, it faced resistance. Both the Republican and Libertarian parties in Hawaii formally opposed the measure and Democrats, according to Rhoads in a committee hearing late last week, were not supportive either:

"Considering that both the Republicans and the Democrats -- and the Libertarians -- don't want it... I think we are missing an opportunity for improve... Well, people want to vote for president, so I think we're missing an opportunity. But I don't see it happening, so I'm just going to defer it."

So Rhoads pulled the bill, seemingly tabling the effort for the year. 

--

Noteworthy: As was discussed during the aforementioned committee hearing, Hawaii remains one of the dwindling number of caucus states in the presidential nomination process. While there were a number of party-run primaries on the Democratic side in 2024, there were a handful of caucuses as well. Hawaii was one of just three caucus states for Democrats in the last cycle. Caucuses are not nearly as out of fashion among Republicans.

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

The 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar Plus 

Tracking the evolution of the timeline of delegate selection events that will determine the next presidential nominees

Third time's the charm for February West Virginia presidential primary?

For the third year running, West Virginia state House Delegate Michael Hite (R-92nd, Berkeley) has introduced legislation in Charleston to establish a separate presidential primary in the Mountain state and schedule the election for the third Tuesday in February (in 2028, February 16). 

Neither of the previous two efforts in 2024 or 2025 gained any traction and the latest attempt is likely to meet the same end. Regardless of any other points of dispute on this particular measure, the proposed date in HB 4751 would at the very least put the West Virginia primary in violation of national party delegate selection rules for both parties. Such a move would cost Mountain state Republicans slightly more than half of their delegation after the RNC's super penalty knocked the number of delegates down to twelve. And West Virginia Democrats would face an initial 50 percent penalty on their delegation under DNC rules. That could potentially rise to a full one hundred percent penalty or fall away to nothing. In the latter instance, West Virginia Democrats could make a case to the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee for a waiver based on the primary date change being made by a Republican-sponsored bill with seven Republican co-sponsors in addition to Republicans holding down unified control of state government. 

However, that is definitely putting the cart before the horse. This legislation would have to show some progress where the similar previous legislation died before this gets anywhere close to a discussion of penalties and waivers. And there is no indication yet that 2026 will be any different in Charleston than the past two have been for the scheduling of the presidential primary. 

--

Noteworthy: One area where this bill is silent is on the matter of the fiscal impact. What would it cost the state to fund and conduct a February presidential primary separate from the primaries for other offices that it has customarily been concurrent with in mid-May in most post-reform presidential nomination cycles. Price tags of separate primary elections have been a bridge too far in other Republican-controlled states in recent cycles. 

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

The 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar Plus 

Tracking the evolution of the timeline of delegate selection events that will determine the next presidential nominees

Rhode Island legislation eyeing Super Tuesday presidential primary

Legislation introduced in Providence in January would shift the presidential primary in the Ocean state up to Super Tuesday in 2028 and beyond. 

Current state law provides for a state-run presidential primary in Rhode Island to be conducted on the fourth Tuesday in April. The primary has begun every cycle since 2012 in that position on the calendar, often aligned with primaries in neighboring states across the northeast and mid-Atlantic. But the last two cycles have seen temporary changes to the contest's statutory late April date. The Covid pandemic forced a delay in 2020 and the primary was pushed up to the first Tuesday in April but only for the 2024 cycle. The date reverted to the end of April thereafter. 

And that is what H 7090, sponsored by Rhode Island Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-19th, Warwick & Cranston), seeks to change starting in 2028. The Rhode Island Democratic Party supports the move to Super Tuesday, citing alignment with primaries in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont on the same date. Deputy Secretary of State Rob Rock spoke in favor of the change in a committee hearing as did elections administrators in Newport, who filed written support.

H 7090 was heard before the Rhode Island House State Government and Elections Committee on February 5. It, along with the other bills considered in the hearing, were held for further study. That does not kill or necessarily table any change. Rather, the committee voted before consideration of the items on their agenda not to vote on any bills before it that day. 

--

Noteworthy: While a move to the first Tuesday in March would align the Rhode Island presidential primary with those in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, the Ocean state may not be the only one from the former northeastern/mid-Atlantic primary of the recent past to consider a move to Super Tuesday. There is active legislation in New York to make a similar move and Delaware was said at the recent DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee to have a Super Tuesday primary date as well. It does not, but that may be an indication of intent in the First state if Delaware is not granted an even earlier position in the early window by the DNC for 2028. Other states in the area may follow.

This legislation will be added to the annotated 2028 presidential primary calendar over at our sister site, FHQ Plus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

New York? On Super Tuesday? 

It has happened before and history may repeat itself in 2028. What are the implications?

"Democrats to shake up primary map, as 12 states vie to be among the first"

Maeve Reston from the Washington Post puts a wrap on last weekend's Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting in Puerto Rico:

"A powerful Democratic committee that will determine which states hold the party’s first nominating contests in the 2028 presidential race voted Saturday to advance 12 states that had applied to hold the first in the nation contests.

"Iowa had traditionally held the first caucuses, and New Hampshire has long relished its status as the first-in-the-nation primary. But in 2024, Joe Biden’s allies pressed the Democratic Party to move up South Carolina’s primary ahead of New Hampshire to highlight his strength among Black voters.

"After steep losses in the 2024 general election, party leaders have said they are ready to completely rethink the early-state lineup. On Saturday, Democrats advanced the 12 states that applied to hold the first nominating contests: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.”

--

Noteworthy: Contrast the "shake up" mentioned in the headline coupled with the "completely rethink the early-state lineup" above with the close to Reston's piece:

"States like New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada are all vying to hold the first nominating contest. Party officials from states like Georgia and Michigan have made it clear that they will be satisfied being anywhere in the early rotation."

The five states in that list? All were conditionally granted waivers by the DNC to conduct early contests in 2024. That does not make it sound like much of a "shake up."

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

Some additional thoughts on the Democrats' recent 2028 primary calendar meeting 

Learning, incentives, appearance versus reality and the limits of the national parties in calendar crafting

"DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Votes to Advance 12 States to Next Phase of 2028 Presidential Calendar Selection Process"

The following is a press release from the DNC on the January 31 Rules and Bylaws Committee that began to consider the submission materials from state parties applying for early state waivers in the 2028 presidential nomination process:

Today, at the January meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC), the RBC reviewed applications for the early nominating window of the 2028 presidential calendar. The RBC received 12 applications for the early window and voted to advance all 12 of those states to the next phase of the process, which is an opportunity for states to deliver presentations to the Committee.

The states invited to present are: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

RBC Co-Chairs Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt, Jr. released the following statement:

“Today, the Rules and Bylaws Committee took another crucial step forward to create a nominating calendar that delivers a strong, battle-tested Democratic nominee to take back the White House in 2028. The RBC remains committed to running a rigorous, efficient, and fair selection process and looks forward to states presenting their cases directly to the Committee in the coming months.”

DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“As the Rules and Bylaws Committee continues their work to set the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nominating calendar, I commend the Committee for their commitment to a transparent and fair process that produces the strongest possible Democratic nominee.”

Background on the 2028 Calendar Process:

At the October 27, 2025 RBC meeting, the Committee passed a resolution outlining the next steps in determining the early window of the 2028 presidential nominating calendar. The Resolution established that the fundamental goal for the 2028 calendar process is to “produce the strongest possible Democratic nominee for president” and included the following requirements:

• The RBC must select between four and five states for the early window and must include one state from each of the DNC’s four geographic regions (East, Midwest, South, and West).
• The Committee will execute the calendar process “in the most transparent, open, and fair manner feasible,” while providing “adequate, clear, and timely notice on major milestones and requirements.”
• Three pillars will be used to evaluate early state applicants:
• Rigorousness: the lineup of early states must be a comprehensive test of candidates with diverse groups of voters that are key to winning the general election;
• Fairness: the lineup of early states must be affordable, practical for candidates, and not exhaust their resources unreasonably, precluding them from effectively participating in future contests;
• Efficiency: the practical ability to run a fair, transparent, and inclusive primary or caucus.

--

Related at FHQ Plus (subscription)...

DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee moves all 12 states vying for early state status for 2028 to next stage 

State parties will now make in-person presentations to the panel for inclusion in the early window