“Virginia voters won’t have to wait until Super Tuesday to pick a Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee proposed Virginia as the sixth state on the early presidential primary calendar in 2028, with the election scheduled on Feb. 29 — leap day. It will follow Democratic presidential primaries in South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Michigan under the calendar adopted Friday,” Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Sen. Lamont Bagby and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe praised the move as recognition of Virginia’s diverse electorate, strong election administration and national political weight, giving the commonwealth an earlier platform for candidates ahead of Super Tuesday.

For the first time under a new law, Virginia’s election offices were open Sunday, but in nearly half the state no one showed up to vote, Cardinal News reported. Turnout was strong in some Northern Virginia localities while most rural areas recorded zero in-person votes, with offices required to open again this Sunday.