A coalition of prominent Latino leaders is making a final push to persuade the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee to designate Nevada as the first state to vote in the 2028 Democratic primary, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.
In a letter addressed to committee members, two dozen Latino leaders argue that if Democrats are serious about rebuilding their coalition after the 2024 election, the 2028 calendar presents a crucial opportunity to reconnect with Latino voters by placing Nevada at the front of the primary lineup.
“This is why we urge you to select Nevada as the first-in-the-nation primary or caucus state for 2028,” the letter states.
The appeal arrives as the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is slated to convene in Washington on Thursday and Friday to vote on which states will lead off the Democratic presidential contest. The committee's recommendation will then be presented to the full DNC for a vote next month in Austin, Texas.
One source familiar with the lobbying effort described Nevada's campaign as “the best organized campaign and second place isn’t even close.” On Wednesday, committee members also received a separate letter from Nevada Democrats Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Representative Steven Horsford.
The Latino leaders' letter emphasizes that “Latino voters now make up more than 15 percent of the electorate” and notes that from 2016 to 2024, the party's “margin among Latino voters eroded by roughly 30 points, underscoring the need to strengthen engagement and invest in the communities that will help determine the future of our democracy.”
“No state can better ensure the prioritization of such a strategy than battleground Nevada,” the letter asserts, highlighting that nearly one in five Nevada voters is Latino.
“Making Nevada first forces every presidential candidate to show up early, invest seriously, and answer to a diverse, working-class electorate before a single vote is cast anywhere else,” the letter concludes. “That is not symbolic. It is the test our nominee needs to pass.”
The push comes amid broader debates within the party about primary calendar reform, with some states jockeying for early slots. For context, similar dynamics have played out in other states, such as Arizona, where primary results have shaped party strategies. Meanwhile, concerns about election integrity persist, as seen in state officials pushing back against unproven fraud claims.
