CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) —Since the 2012 election, Virginia’s presidential primaries have taken place on Super Tuesday, the day when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primaries or caucuses. A recent effort from Democrats in the commonwealth, however, including former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, could change that.

The Democratic National Committee is considering a proposal to move Virginia into the early window of primaries, before a majority of states hold theirs, for the 2028 presidential election.

Virginia’s case was brought before the Rules & Bylaws committee of the Democratic National Committee. Susan Swecker, former chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, was a part of the team that worked on the proposal to include Virginia in the early window and is a member of the committee.

“Democratic electorate in these states are engaged, and this will give each and every one the opportunity to get up close and personal, vet the candidates, and see who has the best strategy,” Swecker said in an interview with Cville Right Now.

The party reassesses what states to include in the early window every four years, but with Republicans controlling the White House, more responsibility falls to the DNC without a party figurehead in office leading the charge to determine which states should hold early primaries. “There were three goals set out that we tried to set out as rules and bylaws committee members in starting this process and how to determine which states would go outside the window. It needs to be rigorous, fair, and efficient,” Swecker told Cville Right Now.

One point in Virginia’s favor is the frequency of its elections. Virginia is one of just four states that holds off-year elections, meaning the state will hold significant elections every year as opposed to every two years. “We are used to voting in Virginia,” Swecker said.

The makeup of Virginia’s electorate also positions it as a diverse voting group with different interests. “I believe that Virginia, we look like America, quite frankly,” said Swecker. Northern Virginia with federal government employees, the Hampton Roads region with military personnel, and rural areas that make up 25% of the state all provide notable differences for a campaigning candidate. Swecker also noted that with a Democratic trifecta in the state government, moving the effort forward has been supported by state leadership.

Former Congressional Rep. Tom Perriello, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 5th District, said he supports the proposed move.

“I haven’t seen the details, but I think anything that gives Virginia more of a voice is a good thing,” Perriello told Cville Right Now. “I think that’s good for everyone, right, left and center in this state. I think it’s frankly good for the economy, too. I remember when we became a swing state for a couple of years, you really saw a lot more attention on the state. As someone who cares about making sure Viginia gets every bit of opportunity it can get, that’s probably a good thing.”

Perriello said Virginia should have a large voice when it comes to the presidential election, because the Commonwealth offers a good snapshot of the national political scene.

“Virginia is representative of the country as a whole, and so is this district,” Perriello said. “When it comes to an area that should be part of the democratic process, when you look at the 5th District, it’s not really split between red and blue. It’s split between 12 different political identities being told that they have to fit into red and blue. Whether that’s different generations or ethnicities or political views, I really feel it on the trail every day. You’ve got MAHA moms and Libertarians and lefties and the rest. I think it’s an interesting place where these issues are coming to the fore.”

Though the recommendation from the Rules & Bylaw Committee of the DNC does move the effort closer to reality, there are still steps remaining in the process before Virginia can hold the primary in the early window. The recommendation has to be presented before the entire 448-member body of the DNC at its August meeting in Austin, Texas. Once ratified there, party leadership in the state will move forward in drafting legislation to confirm the primary date at the General Assembly session in January 2027.