Politics

Peter Hamby says DNC is ratifying early 2028 primary calendar

Name: Peter Hamby says DNC is ratifying early 2028 primary calendar
Uploaded: 2026-07-24T21:45:00+00:00
Description: Peter Hamby says Democratic National Committee members began ratifying a revised early-state primary calendar, with Nevada and South Carolina slated to lead off, followed by New Hampshire and Michigan. He adds that New Mexico and Virginia were being discussed for the same early window, and argues South Carolina was likely to go first.

No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen · UH OH: Trump hangs JD Vance OUT TO DRY · July 24, 2026

No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen

UH OH: Trump hangs JD Vance OUT TO DRY

"The first four states are going to be either Nevada and South Carolina going first and then New Hampshire and Michigan. They're also talking about adding two more states for a total of six. And it sounds like as of now when we're recording this on Friday, uh, New Mexico and Virginia will be added to that first window, which is interesting."

Peter Hamby says Democratic National Committee members began ratifying a revised early-state primary calendar, with Nevada and South Carolina slated to lead off, followed by New Hampshire and Michigan. He adds that New Mexico and Virginia were being discussed for the same early window, and argues South Carolina was likely to go first.

About this episode

Brian Tyler Cohen speaks with Puck News chief national correspondent Peter Hamby about signs of vulnerability for JD Vance inside Republican politics and about Democratic preparations for the 2028 nominating calendar. Hamby cites an Emerson College national poll of Republicans that he says shows Vance falling sharply from roughly 50% support in August 2025 to the mid-30s, placing him in a near-tie with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hamby attributes Vance’s slide to the administration’s unpopularity and argues Vance has made himself the most visible defender of Trump’s agenda, including foreign-policy disputes, while Rubio has kept a lower profile.

The pair then turn to internal Democratic Party decisions on which states will vote first in the 2028 primaries. Hamby says the DNC was ratifying a new calendar that would elevate South Carolina and Nevada into the first slots, with New Hampshire and Michigan also in the opening window, and that New Mexico and Virginia were being discussed for addition. He describes the intra-party debate as balancing Black political power in South Carolina, Latino and labour politics in Nevada, and Michigan’s mix of union, suburban, rural, and Arab/Muslim voters. Hamby also says some DNC members view Michigan as a place Democrats must confront, rather than avoid, Gaza-related divisions.

The episode closes with a lighter segment on Hamby’s reporting about Josh Shapiro courting LeBron James before a reported signing with Philadelphia, followed by subscription plugs for Puck content.

Key takeaways

Peter Hamby says an Emerson College poll shows JD Vance down to 36% support for the 2028 GOP nomination, with Marco Rubio at 35%.
Hamby argues Vance has become a prominent public defender of Trump, which he says can make him a “heat shield” for unpopular policies.
Hamby says the DNC began ratifying a revised early-primary calendar, elevating South Carolina and Nevada into the first window with New Hampshire and Michigan.
He adds that New Mexico and Virginia were being discussed for inclusion, potentially expanding the early window to six states.
Hamby says Nevada’s labour politics and South Carolina’s Black-majority Democratic electorate are central to arguments over which state should go first.
He says Michigan’s large Arab and Muslim population makes Gaza a significant intraparty issue candidates may have to address early.