2008 Calendar

DNC Press Release: Washington, DC - Today, the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to add two states to the presidential primary calendar: Nevada will hold a caucus and South Carolina will hold a primary in the pre-window primary period. Iowa will remain the first caucus in the pre-window period and New Hampshire will remain the first primary.

Additionally, the committee voted on the timing of the presidential primary contest in the pre-window period. The committee voted to hold the Iowa caucus on January 14th, the Nevada caucus thereafter, the New Hampshire primary on January 22nd, and the South Carolina primary no earlier than January 29th. The window officially opens on February 5th...

DNC Chairman Howard Dean made the following statement following the vote:

From the beginning, I have strongly believed in the importance of broadening participation in the nomination process to better reflect the rich racial, regional, and economic diversity of the Democratic Party and ensure that our Party produces the strongest possible nominee. The Rules and Bylaws Committee has worked hard to achieve that goal while pacing the process more evenly and balancing the need for change with Iowa's and New Hampshire's important, traditional roles. This has been a long, thoughtful and rigorous process. I want to thank the members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee for their hard work. They have conducted this process with the highest integrity; I support this final recommendation to add Nevada and South Carolina in the pre-window period. I also want to thank all of the states who applied, their participation has been absolutely critical in ensuring the rigor and integrity of this process.

-It looks like Iowa and New Hampshire will get company this election in being first to select the Democratic nominee. I'm personally in favor of the changes, Iowa and New Hampshire have had too much influence in the nomination process. How do you feel about the changes to the primary/caucus calendar?

--Justin