CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) -- Candidates hoping to become the new leader of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will be in Charleston next week for a forum focusing on the role of southern states in the party's future. The in-person forum, co-hosted by the South Carolina Democratic Party, is scheduled for Jan. 24 at 6 p.m., though an exact location has not yet been announced. It will come just over a week before the DNC elects its new officers as Democrats try to bounce back from widespread losses in November's elections. Eight candidates are running to replace outgoing Chair and native South Carolinian Jaime Harrison, who is not seeking another term. Two state party chairs -- Ken Martin of Minnesota and Ben Wikler of Wisconsin -- have emerged as frontrunners in the race. Former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, New York State Sen. James Skoufis, former Homeland Security official Nate Snyder, former congressional candidate Quintessa Hathaway, and attorney Jason Paul are also running. Illinois Rep. Johnathan Jackson, the son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, is also considering a bid for DNC Chair, according to Axios. Democrats warn party must look beyond ‘blue wall’ to win It was not immediately clear whether all eight candidates plan to attend the Charleston forum, which officials said will focus on "strengthening the Democratic presence across Southern states and addressing the priorities of diverse coalitions essential to Democratic victories." SCDP Chair Christale Spain said she is excited to welcome Democratic leaders across the region to the Palmetto State for the event. "This forum is a unique opportunity for Southern DNC members to bring their voices, particularly those of Black and rural voters, into this critical DNC Chair election process," she said. As Democrats look to the future, there is already talk of reordering the primary contests for the next presidential election. South Carolina's primary was the first meaningful contest of the 2024 Democratic presidential race after a shake-up bumped the state to the first-place slot in the presidential nominating calendar. The Biden-led effort signaled the president’s loyalty to the state that helped propel him to the nomination — and ultimately the White House — in 2020. While some are pushing for a revamp, Skoufis has called on the committee to keep South Carolina first, arguing in a memo first obtained by The Hill that the current order “better reflects the diversity of our party and our nation and places voters who are the backbone of our party–but with whom ties have frayed–front and center.”  The DNC will hold its officer elections on February 1.