Democratic Hopefuls Flood South Carolina as 2028 Presidential Race Heats Up

Democratic leaders are flocking to South Carolina to campaign for midterm candidates, signaling an early start to the 2028 presidential primary cycle.

Editorial Desk

September 28, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Columbia, South Carolina — While South Carolina remains a Republican stronghold with little chance of shifting in the upcoming midterms, the state has become a magnet for high-profile Democrats. The influx of national figures is driven by the state’s pivotal role as the first stop in the party’s 2028 presidential nominating calendar.

In the coming weeks, a wave of potential presidential contenders—including Rep. Ro Khanna, Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. JB Pritzker, and political veteran Rahm Emanuel—will descend on the state to stump for local candidates. This follows recent appearances by other prominent Democrats such as Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Ruben Gallego, Sen. Cory Booker, and Gov. Wes Moore.

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Democratic National Committee member Bre Maxwell noted that these visits serve a dual purpose: supporting midterm efforts while allowing candidates to gauge their standing with voters. While former Vice President Kamala Harris has not visited recently, her established ties in the state provide her with a unique advantage over rivals who are still working to build name recognition.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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