2020 Presidential Primaries Calendar


Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, some states are postponing primary elections.

As of Apr. 8, 2020, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island have delayed voting. Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming Democrats have canceled in-person voting in favor of mail-in ballots.

Please check with your state officials to confirm your primary voting date.

Additionally, the Democratic National Convention has been moved from July to August.





Each state, DC, and US territory holds a Democratic and a Republican primary, caucus, or convention to select a presidential candidate before the party nominates a candidate for a nationwide presidential election. A primary is a statewide vote in which each voter selects their preferred candidate. A caucus is a "system of local gatherings" during which voters decide on a candidate. A state convention works like the national convention, in which the jurisdictions within the state hold primaries or caucuses and then send delegates to the convention to select a candidate. Most states hold primaries. If an election is a caucus or convention, it is noted below.

While we do not usually include US territories in our state-by-state lists and people in US territories cannot vote in the presidential election, each territory does have primaries or caucuses, sends delegates to the party conventions, and is therefore included below. We have not included primaries for third parties because they do not happen consistently in every state; we have included the third party conventions when dates are available.

Five states, DC, and three territories hold Democratic and Republican conventions in different months, hence their being marked in pink on the map above: Alaska, Kansas, Kentucky, Hawaii, North Dakota, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam.

The candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties are selected at the conventions based on the number of delegates gained from each state. Delegates are people who travel to the national conventions to represent the state. The 2020 Democratic party convention will have an estimated 3,768 pledged delegates, plus an additional 764 superdelegates. The 2020 Republican national convention will have an estimated 2,440 pledged delegates, plus an additional 110 unpledged delegates. Pledged delegates have agreed to vote for the candidate who wins the state's election. Each state has rules on how delegates are awarded to candidates. Superdelegates, or unpledged delegates, are not bound to any particular candidate and may vote however they choose. To win the party nomination, a candidate must win the majority of the party's delegates.

Each primary or caucus is open, closed, or mixed. Open means that any registered voter may vote, regardless of party registration or affiliation, but must choose only one party's ballot to vote on. Closed means that only voters registered with the particular party may vote, and, in most cases, voters must be registered with the party before voting day. Mixed most often means that independent voters may vote without declaring party affiliation, though the rules vary state-by-state and by party.

Some state Republican parties have canceled their Republican primaries, including South Carolina, Kansas, and Arizona. According to Nik DeCosta-Kilpa, the cancelations have precedent in both parties: "[T]here's also a history of parties of an incumbent president canceling primaries in those states to save money, since the parties pay for primary elections. But when it has happened, it has usually been the case that the president was running without any major primary challengers. Arizona Democrats didn’t hold a presidential primary in 2012 and 1996. Kansas did the same in 1996, citing $1.4 million in savings. And both parties in South Carolina have canceled primaries twice since the 1980s." The canceled primaries are still listed below but marked as canceled.


FEBRUARY 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
Feb. 3 Iowa Democratic
caucus
41 mixed
Republican
caucus
40 mixed
Feb. 11 New Hampshire Democratic 24 mixed
Republican 22 mixed
*South Carolina's Republican
primary was canceled.
Feb. 15
South Carolina
Republican
50 open
Feb. 15 Nevada Democratic
caucus
36 closed
*Nevada's Republican
primary was canceled.
Feb. 25
Nevada
Republican
caucus
25 closed
Feb. 29 South Carolina Democratic 54 open
MARCH 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
Super Tuesday Mar. 3 Alabama Democratic 52 open
Republican 50 open
*Alaska's Republican
primary was canceled.
Mar. 3
Alaska
Republican
caucus
28 closed
Mar. 3 American Samoa Democratic
caucus
6 open
Mar. 3 Arkansas Democratic 31 open
Republican 40 open
Mar. 3 California Democratic 416 mixed
Republican 172 closed
Mar. 3 Colorado Democratic 67 open
Republican 37 open
*Georgia's primary was
moved to May 19, 2020
and then moved to
June 9, 2020.
Mar. 3 Georgia Democratic 105 open

Republican 76 open
Mar. 3 Massachusetts Democratic 91 mixed
Republican 41 mixed
Mar. 3 Minnesota Democratic 75 open
Republican 39 open
Mar. 3 North Carolina Democratic 110 mixed
Republican 71 mixed
Mar. 3 Oklahoma Democratic 37 mixed
Republican 43 closed
Mar. 3 Tennessee Democratic 64 open
Republican 58 open
Mar. 3 Texas Democratic 228 open
Republican 155 open
Mar. 3 Utah Democratic 29 open
Republican 40 closed
Mar. 3 Vermont Democratic 16 open
Republican 17 open
Mar. 3 Virginia Democratic 99 open
Republican 49 open
Mar. 3 Democrats Abroad Democratic 13 must be members of
Democrats Abroad
*Kansas' Republican
primary was canceled.
Mar. 7
Kansas
Republican
caucus
39 mixed
*Kentucky's primary was
moved to June 23, 2020.
Mar. 7 Kentucky Republican
caucus
46 closed
*Louisiana's primary was
moved to June 20, 2020.
Mar. 7 Louisiana Democratic 50 closed

Republican 46 closed
Mar. 7 Maine Republican
caucus
22 closed
Mar. 8 Maine Democratic
caucus
22 closed
Mar. 8 Puerto Rico Republican 23 open
Mar. 10 Hawaii Republican
caucus
19 closed
Mar. 10 Idaho Democratic 20 mixed
Republican 32 closed
Mar. 10 Michigan Democratic 125 open
Republican 73 open
Mar. 10 Mississippi Democratic 36 open
Republican 39 open
Mar. 10 Missouri Democratic 68 open
Republican 54 open
Mar. 10 North Dakota Democratic
caucus
14 open
*Ohio's primary has been
moved to Apr. 28 and is almost
exclusively vote-by-mail.
Mar. 10 Ohio Democratic 136 mixed
Republican 82 mixed
Mar. 10 Washington Democratic 89 mixed
Republican 44 closed
Mar. 12 Virgin Islands Republican
caucus
9 closed
Mar. 14 DC Republican
caucus
19 closed
Mar. 14 Guam Republican
caucus
19 closed
Mar. 14 Northern Marianas Democratic
convention
6 closed
Mar. 14 Wyoming Republican
convention
12 mixed
Mar. 17 Arizona Democratic 67 closed
*Arizona's Republican
primary was canceled.
Mar. 17
Arizona
Republican
57 closed
Mar. 17 Florida Democratic 67 closed
Republican 57 closed
Mar. 17 Illinois Democratic 155 mixed
Republican 67 mixed
Mar. 17 Northern Marianas Republican
caucus
9 closed
Mar. 24 American Samoa Republican
caucus
6 open
*Puerto Rico's primary was
moved to Apr. 26, 2020.
Mar. 29 Puerto Rico Democratic 51 open
*Wyoming has cancelled in-person voting
for the Democratic caucus. Constituents may
still vote by mail. Ballots need to be received
by the Democratic party by Apr. 17.
Mar. 30 Wyoming Democratic
caucus
13 mixed
APRIL 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
Apr. 3-5 North Dakota Republican
convention
29 closed
*Alaska Democrats have canceled in-person voting.
Constituents may still vote by mail. Ballots need to be
received by the Democratic party Apr. 10, 2020
Apr. 4 Alaska Democratic 14 open
*Hawaii Democrats have canceled in-person voting.
Constituents may still vote by mail. Ballots need to be
received by the Democratic party May 22, 2020.
Apr. 4 Hawaii Democratic 22 open
*Wisconsin's primary was moved to June 9, 2020,
however the state's Supreme Court overturned the
change. The primary remains on Apr. 7, 2020.
Apr. 7 Wisconsin Democratic 77 open
Republican 52 open
*New York's Republican
primary was canceled.
Apr. 23 New York Republican 95 closed
*Puerto Rico's primary was
moved from Mar. 29, 2020.
and then postponed indefinitely.
Apr. 26 Puerto Rico Democratic 51 open
*New York's Democratic primary
was moved to June 23, 2020, 
later canceled, and reinstated.
Apr. 28 New York Democratic 224 closed
*Connecticut's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020.
Apr. 28 Connecticut Democratic 49 closed
Republican 28 closed
*Delaware's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020.
Apr. 28 Delaware Democratic 17 closed
Republican 16 closed
*Maryland's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020.
Apr. 28 Maryland Democratic 79 mixed
Republican 38 mixed
*Ohio's primary was
moved from Mar. 10 and is almost
exclusively vote-by-mail.
Apr. 28 Ohio Democratic 136 mixed
*Pennsylvania's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020.
Apr. 28 Pennsylvania Democratic 153 closed
Republican 88 closed
*Rhode Island's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020
Apr. 28 Rhode Island Democratic 21 mixed
Republican 19 mixed
MAY 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
May 2 Kansas Democratic 33 mixed
May 2 Guam Democratic
caucus
6 closed
*Indiana's primary was
moved to June 2, 2020.
May 5 Indiana Democratic 70 open
Republican 58 open
May 12 Nebraska Democratic 25 mixed
Republican 36 mixed
May 12 West Virginia Democratic 24 mixed
Republican 34 mixed
*Georgia's primary was
moved from Mar. 3, 2020 and
then moved to June 9, 2020
May 19 Georgia Democratic 105 open

Republican 76 open

May 19 Kentucky Democratic 46 closed
May 19 Oregon Democratic 52 closed
Republican 28 closed
May 21-25, 2020
Libertarian National Convention
JUNE 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
*Connecticut's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020
June 2 Connecticut Democratic 49 closed


Republican 28 closed
*Delaware's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020.
June 2 Delaware Democratic 17 closed
Republican 16 closed
*Indiana's primary was
moved from May 5, 2020
June 2 Indiana Democratic 70 open



Republican 58 open
*Maryland's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020
June 2 Maryland Democratic 70 mixed



Republican 38 mixed
June 2 Montana Democratic 16 open
Republican 27 open
*New Jersey's primary was
moved to July 7, 2020.
June 2 New Jersey Democratic 107 closed
Republican 49 closed
June 2 New Mexico Democratic 29 closed
Republican 22 closed
*Pennsylvania's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020.
June 2 Pennsylvania Democratic 153 closed
Republican 88 closed
*Rhode Island's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020.
June 2 Rhode Island Democratic 21 mixed



Republican 19 mixed
June 2 South Dakota Democratic 14 open
Republican 29 closed

June 6 Virgin Islands Democratic
caucus
6 closed
*Georgia's primary was first moved 
from Mar. 3, 2020 to May 19. It was
later moved to June 9.
June 9 Georgia Democratic 105 open
Republican 76 open

June 16 DC Democratic 17 closed
*Louisiana's primary was
moved from Mar. 7, 2020.
June 20 Louisiana Democratic 50 closed

Republican 46 closed
*Kentucky's primary was
moved from Mar. 7, 2020
June 23 Kentucky Republican
caucus
46 closed
*New York's primary was
moved from Apr. 28, 2020,
later canceled, and ordered
reinstated by a federal judge.
June 23 New York Democratic 224 closed
JULY 2020
Date State Party Number of delegates
to party convention
Open/Closed/Mixed
*New Jersey's primary was
moved from June. 2, 2020
July 7 New Jersey Democratic 107 closed



Republican 49 closed
JULY 9-12, 2020
Green Party National Convention
Week of AUGUST 17, 2020
Democratic National Convention
*The Democratic National Convention
was rescheduled from July 13-16 due
to COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns.
AUGUST 24-27, 2020
Republican National Convention
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
Election Day
Sources:

Sarah Almukhtar, Jonathan Martin, and Matt Stevens, "2020 Presidential Election Calendar," June 25, 2019

Tal Axelrod, "Indiana Postpones Primary Due to Coronavirus Fears," thehill.com, Mar. 20, 2020

Tal Axelrod, "New Jersey Moves Primary Elections to July," thehill.com, Apr. 8, 2020

Ballotpedia, "Democratic Delegate Rules, 2020," ballotpedia.org (accessed July 10, 2019)

Ballotpedia, "Republican Delegate Rules, 2020," ballotpedia.org (accessed July 10, 2019)

Rafael Bernal, "Puerto Rico Delays Its Primary a Second Time," thehill.com, Apr. 2, 2020

Eric Bradner and Kate Sullivan, "Wisconsin Governor Orders Delay of Primary Election until June," cnn.com, Apr. 6, 2020

Devan Cole, "Alaska GOP Cancels Its 2020 Presidential Primary in Show of Support for Trump," cnn.com, Sep. 23, 2019

Nick Corasaniti and Stephanie Saul, "2020 Democratic Primary Election: Voting Postponed in 5 States Because of Virus," nytimes.com, Mar. 17, 2020

Nik DeCosta-Klipa, "Bill Weld Goes off on Republicans' Plans to Cancel Presidential Primaries in Several States," Sep. 6, 2019

Democrats Abroad, "Democrats Abroad Calls on Americans Abroad to Participate in the 2020 Presidential Primary," democratsabroad.org, May 3, 2019

Jonathan Easley and Justine Coleman, "Wisconsin Supreme Court Blocks Governor's Effort to Delay Election," thehill.com, Apr. 6, 2020

D'Angelo Gore, "Caucus vs. Primary," factcheck.org, Apr. 8, 2008

The Green Papers, "2020 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions," thegreenpapers.com (accessed July 10, 2019)

Max Greenwood, "Georgia further Delays Primary Election to June," thehill.com, Apr. 9, 2020

Chris Keller, "2020: Democratic Primaries and Key Dates on the Presidential Election Calendar," latimes.com, June 26, 2019

Catherine Kim, "The 2020 Election Calendar," vox.com, June 26, 2019

Libertarian Convention, "2020 Libertarian National Convention," libertariancovention.org (accessed July 10, 2019)

Bill Mahoney, "New York Cancels Republican Presidential Primary," politico.com, Mar. 3, 2020

Nevada Republican Party, "Nevada GOP Re-Elects Chairman Michael J. McDonald, Opts out of 2020 Caucus," nevadagop.org, Sep. 9, 2019

Open Primaries, "Open Primaries State-by-State," openprimaries.org (accessed July 10, 2019)

Open Primaries, "Primary Type Definitions," openprimaries.org (accessed July 10, 2019)

Miles Parks, "Voting Amid Coronavirus: What You Need to Know," npr.org, Mar. 16, 2020

Starlene Rankin (Green Party Staff), Email, Sep. 7, 2019

Kate Sullivan, "Connecticut Governor Says Primaries Moved to June," cnn.com, Mar. 19, 2020

Kate Sullivan, "Rhode Island Postpones Primaries and Alaska Democrats Cancel In-Person Voting Due to Coronavirus," cnn.com, Mar. 23, 2020