Democrats eye 2028 race as states compete to go first

<p>As Democrats turn the page on 2024, a new high-stakes fight is underway over <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/29/12-states-seek-early-window-democrats-2028-presidential-calendar/90262036007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which states will kick off the 2028 presidential primaries</a>. Twelve states made their pitches to the Democratic National Committee, which ranged from racial diversity to electoral history. The coveted early spots can shape the entire race and bring a surge of campaign spending and national media attention. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers explains the political stakes and which states may have the edge.&nbsp;</p><p>Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to <a href="mailto:podcasts@usatoday.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcasts@usatoday.com</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Episode transcript <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/29/who-gets-first-votes-in-democrats-2028-race-the-excerpt/90311404007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">available here</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>