# Beshear backs South Carolina in 2028 primary calendar debate **Published:** 2026-06-02T02:09:00.000Z **Source:** [WUKY 91.3 FM](https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-06-01/beshear-favors-south-carolina-as-part-of-early-group-of-primary-states-for-dem-presidential-hopefuls-in-2028) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/beshear-backs-south-carolina-in-2028-primary-calendar-debate FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, has weighed in on where the Democratic Party should hold its presidential primary contests in 2028, advocating for South Carolina to be part of an early group of voting states. Beshear's position reflects ongoing debate within the Democratic National Committee over restructuring the primary calendar, which has drawn input from party leaders across the country. [According to WUKY 91.3 FM](https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-06-01/beshear-favors-south-carolina-as-part-of-early-group-of-primary-states-for-dem-presidential-hopefuls-in-2028), the governor believes South Carolina should be among the states voting earliest in the nomination process. The primary calendar has been a contentious issue for Democrats in recent years. In 2024, the party altered its traditional order by moving South Carolina earlier and reducing Iowa and New Hampshire's traditional roles as first-voting states. That decision, championed by President Joe Biden and the DNC, proved consequential in shaping the party's nominee selection process. As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear represents the interests of Democratic governors nationwide and has emerged as a prominent voice within party leadership. His advocacy for South Carolina's placement in an early primary window suggests the party may be moving toward cementing the Palmetto State's prominent role in future nomination contests. The 2028 primary calendar will likely be finalized over the next year as the DNC works with state party leaders and campaigns. Any changes to the order of voting states can significantly influence which candidates gain early momentum and viability heading into later contests. Beshear, who was frequently mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate himself before pledging to focus on his gubernatorial duties through 2027, continues to play a substantial role in shaping the Democratic Party's direction and processes as he leads the governors association. ## Sources - [WUKY 91.3 FM](https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-06-01/beshear-favors-south-carolina-as-part-of-early-group-of-primary-states-for-dem-presidential-hopefuls-in-2028) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from WUKY 91.3 FM. The original source is available at https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-06-01/beshear-favors-south-carolina-as-part-of-early-group-of-primary-states-for-dem-presidential-hopefuls-in-2028.