Democratic presidential candidates' 2028 chances in South Carolina

Key Points:

• South Carolina will hold the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028, replacing Iowa and New Hampshire, to better reflect the party’s diverse voters, with over 60% of its Democratic electorate being African American.
• Candidates such as Gavin Newsom, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Wes Moore are actively engaging with South Carolina voters through events and fundraisers, emphasizing the importance of faith, affordability, and voter turnout.
• South Carolina Democrats tend to favor moderate candidates who can appeal to a broad coalition, including the significant African American voting bloc, with progressives generally seen as less likely to succeed in the state's conservative and religious political culture.
• Influential local figures like Rep. Jim Clyburn stress the importance of candidates who will actively work to increase voter turnout and support down-ballot Democrats, highlighting issues like cost of living and faith.
• Despite early polls favoring Kamala Harris, experts suggest her connection with Southern voters is uncertain, and the primary race remains wide open with potential frontrunners including Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, and Gavin Newsom.