Though President Donald Trump is only months into his second term, the 2028 presidential race is already taking shape in South Carolina, where a flurry of visits by high-profile Democrats and Republicans is fueling speculation about potential White House bids, The Hill reported.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled through rural South Carolina this past week during a two-day swing. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Rep. Ro Khanna of California are expected to arrive later this month. The activity has caught the attention of local Democratic Party leaders.
"I don't read it any other way," said Carol Fowler, a South Carolina member of the Democratic National Committee, when asked if she believes the visits hint at presidential ambitions. "I believe that they're at least contemplating it."
The Palmetto State was the first official Democrat primary stop in 2024 and appears poised to retain an outsized role in the early primary calendar. Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Tim Walz of Minnesota appeared in May at Democrat events, including Rep. James Clyburn's annual fish fry.
Moore has denied any interest in a 2028 run. A source close to his campaign said the governor had previously postponed a trip during the 2024 election but recently visited businesses in the state to discuss possible Maryland corporate expansions.
Newsom's trip was billed by the state party as an opportunity "to connect directly with communities that have too often been overlooked by Republicans in power."
Beshear is scheduled to appear next week at a Georgetown County Democratic Party dinner and the South Carolina AFL-CIO Convention.
Khanna will host a town hall in the state as part of his "Benefits Over Billionaires tour to help flip the House in 2026 and hear how Trump and [Vice President JD] Vance's bill will hurt families already struggling to get by."
Republicans are also active. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is slated to headline the South Carolina GOP's Silver Elephant Gala in August. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky recently visited South Carolina and Iowa, Axios reported.
"Running in South Carolina, it helps candidates prove their mettle," said South Carolina Republican Party Chair Drew McKissick. "It's a big enough state to test grassroots support and fuel organization skills and so forth, but it's also small enough to get around and test your retail skills."
The focus on South Carolina has revived debate over which states should go first in the nominating process.
DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman said, "The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent, and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar. All states will have an opportunity to participate."
Iowa Democrats, sidelined in 2024, are pushing to regain early-state status.
"National Democrats let Trump get a head start in the 2024 campaign by excluding Iowa," said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. "We simply can't afford to be ignored again."
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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