Washington D.C. Should Vote First in the 2028 Democratic Primary
Source: Alexander O’Neill. "What state votes first in the 2028 presidential primary? I have a suggestion.." May 26, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that Washington D.C. should vote first in the 2028 Democratic primary, followed by New Hampshire. This would solve the problem of New Hampshire refusing to give up its traditional first position while also giving more diverse voters the first say in choosing the Democratic nominee.
Conclusion
The District of Columbia should be the first jurisdiction to vote in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, followed by New Hampshire as the first state
Premises
- New Hampshire will never give up its first-in-the-nation status due to state law and 100+ year tradition, making compromise necessary
- D.C. is not a state, so New Hampshire could legally maintain its 'first state' position while D.C. votes first overall
- D.C.'s demographics better represent the Democratic Party coalition, with Black residents comprising nearly 50% of registered voters
- D.C.'s small size (68 square miles, under 1 million residents) enables retail politics and direct voter contact like traditional early states
- D.C.'s accessibility to candidates already working in Washington reduces campaign costs and logistical barriers
- D.C. voters have been disenfranchised despite being the most reliable Democratic electoral votes, deserving party attention
- D.C. would force candidates to address economic inequality and racial disparity issues central to Democratic debates
Assumptions
- The current primary system needs reform after 2024's problems
- Demographic representation in early voting states matters for legitimacy
- Small, accessible venues are better for testing candidates than large states
- D.C. residents represent 'real Americans' despite anti-Washington sentiment
- The DNC has authority to restructure the primary calendar
- New Hampshire's legal requirements are immutable constraints