2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries

2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries

← 2020
2028 →
Presidential primary
January 23 to June 8, 2024

Opinion polls
 
Candidate Joe Biden
(withdrawn)[b]
Uncommitted[e]
Home state Delaware
Delegate count 3,905 [2][3] 37
Contests won 56 0
Popular vote 14,465,519[4][c] 706,591
Percentage 87.1%[d] 4.3%

 
Candidate Dean Phillips
(withdrawn)
Jason Palmer
(withdrawn)
Home state Minnesota Maryland
Delegate count 4 3
Contests won 0 1[f]
Popular vote 529,486 20,975
Percentage 3.2% 0.1%

2024 California Democratic presidential primary2024 Oregon Democratic presidential primary2024 Washington Democratic presidential primary2024 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Nevada Democratic presidential primary2024 Utah Democratic presidential primary2024 Arizona Democratic presidential primary2024 Montana Democratic presidential primary2024 Wyoming Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Colorado Democratic presidential primary2024 New Mexico Democratic presidential primary2024 North Dakota Democratic presidential primary2024 South Dakota Democratic presidential primary2024 Nebraska Democratic presidential primary2024 Kansas Democratic presidential primary2024 Oklahoma Democratic presidential primary2024 Texas Democratic presidential primary2024 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary2024 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Missouri Democratic presidential primary2024 Arkansas Democratic presidential primary2024 Louisiana Democratic presidential primary2024 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary2024 Illinois Democratic presidential primary2024 Michigan Democratic presidential primary2024 Indiana Democratic presidential primary2024 Ohio Democratic presidential primary2024 Kentucky Democratic presidential primary2024 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary2024 Mississippi Democratic presidential primary2024 Alabama Democratic presidential primary2024 Georgia Democratic presidential primary2024 Florida Democratic presidential primary2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary2024 North Carolina Democratic presidential primary2024 Virginia Democratic presidential primary2024 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary2024 District of Columbia Democratic presidential primary2024 Maryland Democratic presidential primary2024 Delaware Democratic presidential primary2024 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary2024 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary2024 New York Democratic presidential primary2024 Connecticut Democratic presidential primary2024 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary2024 Vermont Democratic presidential primary2024 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary2024 Maine Democratic presidential primary2024 Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary2024 Alaska Democratic presidential primary2024 Hawaii Democratic presidential primary2024 Puerto Rico Democratic presidential primary2024 U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Northern Mariana Islands Democratic presidential caucuses2024 American Samoa Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Guam Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Democrats Abroad presidential primary
2024 California Democratic presidential primary2024 Oregon Democratic presidential primary2024 Washington Democratic presidential primary2024 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Nevada Democratic presidential primary2024 Utah Democratic presidential primary2024 Arizona Democratic presidential primary2024 Montana Democratic presidential primary2024 Wyoming Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Colorado Democratic presidential primary2024 New Mexico Democratic presidential primary2024 North Dakota Democratic presidential primary2024 South Dakota Democratic presidential primary2024 Nebraska Democratic presidential primary2024 Kansas Democratic presidential primary2024 Oklahoma Democratic presidential primary2024 Texas Democratic presidential primary2024 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary2024 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Missouri Democratic presidential primary2024 Arkansas Democratic presidential primary2024 Louisiana Democratic presidential primary2024 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary2024 Illinois Democratic presidential primary2024 Michigan Democratic presidential primary2024 Indiana Democratic presidential primary2024 Ohio Democratic presidential primary2024 Kentucky Democratic presidential primary2024 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary2024 Mississippi Democratic presidential primary2024 Alabama Democratic presidential primary2024 Georgia Democratic presidential primary2024 Florida Democratic presidential primary2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary2024 North Carolina Democratic presidential primary2024 Virginia Democratic presidential primary2024 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary2024 District of Columbia Democratic presidential primary2024 Maryland Democratic presidential primary2024 Delaware Democratic presidential primary2024 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary2024 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary2024 New York Democratic presidential primary2024 Connecticut Democratic presidential primary2024 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary2024 Vermont Democratic presidential primary2024 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary2024 Maine Democratic presidential primary2024 Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary2024 Alaska Democratic presidential primary2024 Hawaii Democratic presidential primary2024 Puerto Rico Democratic presidential primary2024 U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Northern Mariana Islands Democratic presidential caucuses2024 American Samoa Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Guam Democratic presidential caucuses2024 Democrats Abroad presidential primary
Roll call nomination
August 1–5, 2024 (virtual)
August 20, 2024 (DNC)[g]

4,695 delegates to the Democratic National Convention
2,348 delegates votes needed to win
 
Candidate Kamala Harris Present
Home state California
Delegate count[14] 4,563 52

Previous Democratic nominee

Joe Biden

Democratic nominee

Kamala Harris

From January 23 to June 8, 2024, presidential primaries and caucuses were organized by the Democratic Party to select the delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, to determine the party's nominee for president in the 2024 United States presidential election. The elections took place in all U.S. states (except for Florida and Delaware), the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories, and Democrats Abroad.[15]

Incumbent President Joe Biden had repeatedly expressed his intent to run for re-election since 2021, although there was speculation in the first two years of his presidency that he might not seek a second term due to his age and low approval ratings.[16][17] Former Democratic House representatives, including Carolyn Maloney,[18] Joe Cunningham,[19] and Tim Ryan,[20] had publicly said Biden should not run. There was also speculation that Biden may face a primary challenge, especially from a member of the Democratic Party's progressive faction.[21][22]

After Democrats outperformed expectations in the 2022 midterm elections, many believed the chances that Biden would run for and win his party's nomination had increased.[23][24] On April 25, 2023, Biden announced via a video that he would be running for re-election.[25] Eventually, three main primary opponents emerged; self-help author Marianne Williamson declared her candidacy in March,[26] Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and environmental attorney,[27] declared in April,[28] while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October.[29] Additionally, the Uncommitted National Movement, supported by some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating in 2024 for an uncommitted vote in protest against Biden due to his support for Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.[30][31][32]

Kennedy withdrew from the Democratic primaries in October 2023 to run as an independent candidate.[33] Williamson suspended her campaign following the Nevada primary in February 2024,[34] before unsuspending her campaign following the Michigan primary later that month.[35] On March 6, 2024, Phillips suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden.[36] Phillips received the second-highest number of delegates in the primaries (four delegates gained).[37][38] Biden lost American Samoa to venture capitalist Jason Palmer,[f] becoming the first incumbent president to lose a contest while appearing on the ballot since Jimmy Carter in 1980.[39] However, he won every other contest by a large margin.

President Biden withdrew his candidacy on July 21, following a series of age and health concerns, writing that doing so was "in the best interest of my party and the country". He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.[40] By the next day, Harris had secured the support of enough delegates to make her the presumptive nominee.[41] Harris became the nominee following a virtual roll call with the support of approximately 98.9% of the delegates and opposition from 52 delegates including notable abstentions from U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, U.S. Representative Jared Golden, and U.S. Senator Jon Tester.[42][43][44]

Pledged delegates by candidate following primaries

[edit]


Pledged delegates by candidate following primaries
Candidate Pledged delegates[45][46]
Joe Biden (withdrawn)
3,905
Uncommitted
37
Dean Phillips (withdrawn)
4
Jason Palmer (withdrawn)
3
Total pledged delegate votes 3,949


Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results[4][47][48][49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Biden 14,465,519 87.09%
N/A Uncommitted 706,591 4.25%
Democratic Dean Phillips 529,486 3.19%
Democratic Marianne Williamson 473,761 2.85%
Democratic Jason Palmer 20,975 0.13%
N/A Other candidates 413,592 2.49%
Total votes 16,609,924 100.00%
Map legend
  Winner not yet declared
Map legend

Write-in vote totals are excluded from the above election data reporting for the following states, and are added to the total number of votes for candidates for the purposes of candidate vote share calculations:[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Candidates

[edit]

As of April 2024, more than 190 candidates have filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024.[50]

Following the withdrawal of President Biden on July 21, 2024, the race became an open contest to be decided at the Democratic National Convention.[51]

Nominee

[edit]
Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election
Name Born Experience Home state Campaign
Announcement date
Contests
won
Delegates
won
Total popular vote Running mate Ref

Kamala Harris
October 20, 1964
(age 59)
Oakland, California
Vice President of the United States
(2021–present)

U.S. Senator from California
(2017–2021)
Attorney General of California
(2011–2017)
 California
Campaign
July 21, 2024
FEC filing[52]
Website
None 4,563[53] or 4,567[54][h]
(98.87%)
0[i] Tim Walz[55] [56]
[57][58]

Declined after the primaries

[edit]

Withdrew after the primaries

[edit]
Major candidates who withdrew after the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Name Born Experience Home state Campaign
announced
Campaign
suspended
Campaign Contests
won
Delegates
won
Total
popular vote
Running
mate
Ref

Marianne Williamson
July 8, 1952
(age 72)
Houston, Texas
Author
Founder of Project Angel Food
Candidate for president in 2020
 Washington, D.C. March 4, 2023
February 28, 2024
July 2, 2024
February 7, 2024
June 11, 2024
July 29, 2024

Campaign
FEC filing[76]
Website
None 0
(0.0%)
465,863 (2.8%) None [77]
[78]
[79]
[80]
[81]
[82]

Joe Biden
November 20, 1942
(age 81)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
President of the United States
(2021–present)

Vice President of the United States
(2009–2017)
U.S. Senator from Delaware
(1973–2009)
 Delaware April 25, 2023
July 21, 2024[16]
(endorsed Harris)

Campaign

FEC filing[83]
Website

56
(AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DA, DC, DE[j], FL[j], GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MP, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH[k], NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY)
3,905
(98.9%)[l]
14,465,519
(87.1%)
Kamala Harris [84]
[56]
[85]

Withdrew during the primaries

[edit]
Major candidates who withdrew during the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Name Born Experience Home state Campaign
announced
Campaign
suspended
Campaign Bound
delegates
Contests
won
Popular
vote
Ref.

Jason Palmer
December 1, 1971
(age 52)
Aberdeen, Maryland
Venture capitalist  Maryland October 22, 2023 May 15, 2024
(endorsed Biden, later Harris)

Campaign
FEC filing[86]
Website
3 (0.1%) 1
(AS)
20,975 (0.1%) [87]
[88]
[89]

Dean Phillips
January 20, 1969
(age 55)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
U.S. Representative from MN-03
(2019–present)

CEO of Phillips Distilling Company
(2000–2012)
 Minnesota October 26, 2023 March 6, 2024
(endorsed Biden, later Harris)

Campaign
FEC filing[90]
Website
4 (0.1%) None 529,486 (3.2%) [91]
[92]
[93]
[94]

Other candidates

[edit]

Withdrew before the primaries

[edit]
Major candidates who withdrew before the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Name Born Experience Home state Campaign
announced
Campaign
suspended
Campaign Total popular vote Ref.

Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.
January 17, 1954
(age 69)
Washington, D.C.
Environmental lawyer
Founder of Children's Health Defense
Founder of Waterkeeper Alliance
 California April 19, 2023 October 9, 2023
(ran as an independent, later endorsed Trump)[99]

Campaign
FEC filing[100][101]
Website
[102]
[103]

Other candidates

[edit]

Vice-presidential candidate selection

[edit]

On January 19, 2022, President Biden confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris would again be his running mate in his 2024 re-election campaign.[106]

Some Democrats expressed skepticism about Biden choosing Harris again as his running mate, as she has also seen similar low approval ratings to Biden. In January 2023, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a radio interview that she supported Biden's reelection bid, but stopped short of supporting Harris.[107] She later clarified her position, saying she supported the Biden–Harris ticket.[108]

Following Biden's withdrawal, several names have been suggested as possible running mates if Harris is nominated to replace him. These include Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.[109]

On August 6, 2024, Harris chose Minnesota governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.[110]

Primaries and caucus calendar

[edit]
Caucuses and primaries in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Date[111] Total
delegates
Primaries/caucuses
January 23 0 New Hampshire primary
(state-run)[n]
February 3 55 South Carolina primary
February 6 36 Nevada primary
February 27 117 Michigan primary
March 5
(Super Tuesday)
1420
52 Alabama primary
6 American Samoa caucuses
31 Arkansas primary
424 California primary
72 Colorado primary
40 Iowa caucuses[o]
24 Maine primary
92 Massachusetts primary
75 Minnesota primary
116 North Carolina primary
36 Oklahoma primary
63 Tennessee primary
244 Texas primary
30 Utah primary
16 Vermont primary
99 Virginia primary
March 6 22 Hawaii caucuses
March 12 254
13 Democrats Abroad primary
108 Georgia primary
35 Mississippi primary
6 Northern Marianas caucuses
92 Washington primary
March 19 379 72 Arizona primary
147 Illinois primary
33 Kansas primary
127 Ohio primary
March 23 112
48 Louisiana primary
64 Missouri primary
March 30 13 North Dakota primary
April 2 436
60 Connecticut primary
268 New York primary
26 Rhode Island primary
82 Wisconsin primary
April 13 28 15 Alaska caucuses
13 Wyoming caucuses
April 23 159 Pennsylvania primary
April 27 25 New Hampshire primary
(party-run)
April 28 55 Puerto Rico primary
May 7 79 Indiana primary
May 14 144
95 Maryland primary
29 Nebraska primary
20 West Virginia primary
May 21 119
53 Kentucky primary
66 Oregon primary
May 23 23 Idaho caucuses
June 4 216
20 Washington D.C. primary
20 Montana primary
126 New Jersey primary
34 New Mexico primary
16 South Dakota primary
June 8 14
7 Guam caucuses
7 Virgin Islands caucuses

Ballot access

[edit]

The following is a table for which candidates have received ballot access in which states.

Yes indicates that the candidate was on the ballot for the primary contest.
Dropped indicates that the candidate was a recognized write-in candidate.
No indicates that the candidate did not appear on the ballot in that state's contest.
Maybe indicates that a candidate withdrew before the election but was still listed on the ballot. If a state does not appear in the table, the filing deadline in the state has not passed.

Ballot access in the 2024 Democratic presidential nominating contests
Contest Date Biden Palmer Williamson Phillips Others Uncommitted[r]
New Hampshire
(state-run)[s][115][116]
Jan 23 Write-in Yes Yes Yes Yes[A] No
South Carolina [117] Feb 3 Yes No Yes Yes No No
Nevada[118] Feb 6 Yes Yes Yes No Yes[B] Yes
Michigan[119] Feb 27 Yes No Yes-withdrawn Yes No Yes
Alabama[120] Mar 5 Yes No No Yes No Yes
American Samoa[121] Yes Yes No Yes No No
Arkansas[122][123] Yes No Yes Yes Yes[C] No
California[124][125] Yes No Yes Yes Yes[D] No
Colorado[126] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[E] Yes
Iowa[t][127] Yes No Yes Yes No Yes
Maine[128] Yes No No Yes No No
Massachusetts[129] Yes No Yes Yes No Yes
Minnesota[130] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[F] Yes
North Carolina[131] Yes No No No No Yes
Oklahoma[132] Yes No Yes Yes Yes[G] No
Tennessee[133] Yes No No No No Yes
Texas[134] Yes No Yes Yes Yes[H] No
Utah[135] Yes No Yes Yes Yes[I] No
Vermont[136] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[J] No
Virginia[137] Yes No Yes Yes No No
Hawaii[138] Mar 6 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[K] Yes
Democrats Abroad[v][139] Mar 12 Yes No Yes No No Yes
Georgia[140] Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No No
Mississippi[141] Yes No No No No No
Northern Mariana Islands[v][142] Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn No No
Washington[143] Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Arizona[144] Mar 19 Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes-withdrawn[L] No
Illinois[145] Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes-withdrawn[M] No
Kansas[146] Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Ohio[147] Yes No No Yes-withdrawn No No
Louisiana[148] Mar 23 Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[N] No
Missouri[149] Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[O] Yes
North Dakota[150] Mar 30 Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[P] No
Connecticut[151] Apr 2 Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes-withdrawn[Q] Yes
New York[152] Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No No
Rhode Island[153] Yes No No Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Wisconsin[154][155] Yes No No Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Alaska[156] Apr 13 Yes No No No No No
Wyoming[157] Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[R] Yes
Pennsylvania[158] Apr 23 Yes No No Yes-withdrawn No No
New Hampshire
(party-run)[159]
Apr 27 Yes No No No No No
Puerto Rico[160] Apr 28 Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No No
Indiana[161] May 7 Yes No No No No No
Maryland[162] May 14 Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Nebraska[163] Yes No No Yes-withdrawn No No
West Virginia[164] Yes Yes No Yes-withdrawn Yes[S] No
Kentucky[165] May 21 Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn No Yes
Oregon[166] Yes No Yes No No No
Idaho[167] May 23 Yes Yes Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[w] No
District of Columbia[168] Jun 4 Yes No Yes No Yes[T] Yes
Montana[169] Yes No No No No Yes
New Jersey[170][171] Yes No No No Yes[U] Yes
New Mexico[172] Yes No Yes No No Yes
South Dakota[173] Yes No Yes Yes-withdrawn Yes[V] No
Guam[174] Jun 8 Yes No No No No No
U.S. Virgin Islands[175] Yes No Yes No No Yes
Delaware[176][177] None[x] Yes No No No No No
Florida[178] Yes No No No No No
Total possible delegates 3,949 471 2,747 3,044 Armando Perez-Serrato: 1,157
Stephen Lyons: 829
Frankie Lozada: 755
1,423


Timeline

[edit]

2023

[edit]

February 2023

[edit]

On February 4, the Democratic National Committee approves a new primary calendar, moving South Carolina to February 3, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire on February 6, Georgia on February 13, and Michigan on February 27. Iowa, which traditionally goes first, would then be held later in the primary season.[179][180] The DNC gives Georgia and New Hampshire an extended deadline of June to modify their state laws so they can comply with the new dates (New Hampshire state law mandates them to hold the first primary in the country, while Georgia state law requires them to hold both the Democratic and Republican primaries on the same day), but this remains unlikely to happen since both states have Republican-controlled state legislatures.[181]

March 2023

[edit]

On March 3, the DNC declares their full support for President Biden's re-election, stating they do not plan to host any official debates.[182]

On March 4, author Marianne Williamson announces her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination as the first major primary challenger to incumbent President Biden.[183]

April 2023

[edit]

On April 6, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files to challenge Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary.[184]

The same day, the Idaho Legislature passes House Bill 138, moving the state's presidential primary date to May while also eliminating the original primary date in March.[185][186]

On April 11, the Democratic Party announces that its convention will be held in Chicago, Illinois.[187]

On April 19, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental lawyer and son of Robert F. Kennedy, formally announces his presidential campaign in a launch event in Boston.[188]

On April 25, incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden announces his bid for re-election in 2024.[189]

June 2023

[edit]

On June 4, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Instagram account is reinstated after it was suspended in February 2021 for sharing misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.[190]

On June 11, a Suffolk University poll finds that 8 in 10 Democratic voters would like to see Biden debate other Democratic primary candidates.[191]

On June 15, in an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Kennedy raises the belief that he could be assassinated by the Central Intelligence Agency.[192]

On June 17, President Joe Biden begins his campaign at a rally in Philadelphia.[193]

September 2023

[edit]

On September 12, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announces an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, alleging that he benefited from business dealings with his son Hunter.[194]

On September 14, Hunter Biden is indicted on three firearm-related charges returned by a federal grand jury in Wilmington, Delaware.[195]

On September 16, an armed man impersonating a U.S. Marshal is arrested at a Robert Kennedy Jr. campaign event in Los Angeles.[196]

October 2023

[edit]

On October 6, the DNC reaches a compromise with the Iowa Democratic Party, allowing the Iowa Democratic caucuses to be held first on January 15, 2024, but voting on presidential candidates would also be done via mail-in ballots until Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024.[197]

On October 9, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdraws from the Democratic primaries and launches an independent campaign.[198]

On October 12, progressive commentator Cenk Uygur announces his presidential campaign. Despite his announcement, Uygur is ineligible to serve as president due to being born in Turkey to non U.S. citizens.[199]

On October 16, the Biden campaign launches an account on Truth Social.[200]

On October 24, with New Hampshire state officials moving forward in accordance with their state law mandating them to hold the first primary in the country, denying the DNC's request to hold it after South Carolina's, Biden campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez states that he will not appear on the New Hampshire primary ballot.[201]

On October 26, a man attempts to trespass on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s residence in Brentwood, Los Angeles, and is arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.[202]

The same day, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips files paperwork to run against President Biden for the Democratic nomination.[203]

On October 27, Dean Phillips launches his presidential campaign in Concord, New Hampshire.[204]

November 2023

[edit]

On November 15, The New Hampshire presidential primary date is set for January 23, 2024, defying the DNC's planned schedule.[205]

On November 30, the Florida Democratic Party only submits Biden as a candidate to the Secretary of State of Florida, effectively canceling the state primary.[206]

December 2023

[edit]

On December 2, Muslim American leaders launch the #AbandonBiden campaign in Dearborn, Michigan, as a response to Biden's handling of the Israel–Hamas war.[207]

On December 7, the Lesser-Known Candidates Forum was held at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Twenty minor candidates, both Republican and Democratic, were in attendance.[208]

On December 30, the #AbandonBiden campaign announces plans to expand to all fifty states.[209]

2024

[edit]

January 2024

[edit]

On January 8, New England College hosts a debate between Williamson and Phillips in Manchester, New Hampshire.[210]

On January 12, mail-in voting for the Democratic caucuses in Iowa begins.[197]

And on the same day, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints Robert Hur as special counsel in President Biden's handling of classified documents case.[211]

On January 18, Phillips holds campaign events in Manchester and Hanover, New Hampshire, with 2020 Democratic Primary presidential candidate Andrew Yang.[212]

On January 22, the New Hampshire attorney general's office begins investigating an audio deepfake robocall of President Biden that encouraged people not to vote in the state primary.[213]

On January 23, President Biden wins the non-binding New Hampshire Democratic primary through write-in votes.[214]

On January 27, President Biden and Congressman Phillips spoke at the South Carolina Democratic Party's First-in-the-Nation Celebration dinner in Columbia, South Carolina.[215]

February 2024

[edit]

On February 2, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ordered election officials to put Phillips on the presidential primary ballot after the Wisconsin Elections Commission had excluded him.[216]

On February 3, President Biden wins the South Carolina Democratic primary.[217]

On February 5, Special Counsel Robert Hur releases his report on Biden's handling of classified documents.[218]

On February 6, President Biden wins the Nevada Democratic primary.[219]

On February 7, Marianne Williamson suspends her campaign.[220]

On February 27, President Biden wins the Michigan Democratic primary.[221]

On February 28, Marianne Williamson re-enters the race after the results of the Michigan primary.[222]

March 2024

[edit]

On March 5, Super Tuesday President Biden wins fifteen states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia, while businessman Jason Palmer wins American Samoa.[223]

On March 6, Dean Phillips suspends his campaign and endorses Biden.[224]

The same day, President Biden wins the Hawaii Democratic caucus.[225]

On March 12, President Biden wins the Georgia, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, and Washington primaries, clinching enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.[226]

On March 19, President Biden wins the Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio primaries.[227] Despite having already dropped out, Dean Phillips won three delegates in the Ohio primary. Congressman Phillips was still on the ballot on election day and gained his delegates by meeting the 15% threshold of votes needed to receive a delegate in a congressional district in the state's 2nd, 6th, and 14th districts.[228]

On March 23, President Biden wins the Louisiana and Missouri primaries.[229][230]

On March 30, President Biden wins the North Dakota Democratic primary which is conducted almost entirely through mail-in ballots.[231][better source needed]

April 2024

[edit]

On April 2, President Biden wins the Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.[232] The Delaware Democratic presidential primary was canceled, with the delegates awarded to Biden.[233]

On April 13, President Biden wins the Wyoming Democratic caucus[234] and the Alaska Democratic primary.[235]

On April 23, President Biden wins the Pennsylvania Democratic primary.[236]

On April 27, President Biden wins all 25 of New Hampshire's pledged delegates in a party-backed firehouse primary held by the New Hampshire Democratic Party at Saint Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute of Politics.[237][238]

On April 28, President Biden wins the Puerto Rico Democratic primary.[239]

May 2024

[edit]

On May 7, President Biden wins the Indiana Democratic primary.[240]

On May 14, President Biden wins the Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia primaries.[241][242][243] Despite having already dropped out, Congressman Dean Phillips won one delegate in the Nebraska primary by receiving the most votes of any candidate in Logan County.[244]

On May 21, President Biden wins the Kentucky and Oregon primaries.[245][246]

On May 23, President Biden wins the Idaho Democratic caucuses.[247]

June 2024

[edit]

On June 4, President Biden wins the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota primaries.[248][249][250][251][252]

On June 8, President Biden wins the Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic caucuses, the last nominating contests of the primary cycle.[253][254][self-published source?]

On June 11, Marianne Williamson suspends her campaign for a second time.[255]

On June 27, President Biden and former President Trump hold a general election debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, prior to the nominating conventions.[256]

July 2024

[edit]

On July 2, Marianne Williamson re-enters the race for a third time.[257]

On July 21, President Biden suspends his campaign.[258] Vice President Kamala Harris announces her campaign and is immediately endorsed by Biden.[259]

On July 21, U.S. Representative Phillips proposed a straw poll of delegates ahead of the Democratic National Convention to determine the party's top four presidential contenders, who would then take part in four town halls outlining their platforms.[260] After the town halls, the delegates would vote to choose the nominee.[261][262]

On July 22, Senator Joe Manchin rules out a campaign for president, stating that he would have preferred an open convention.[263]

On July 22, a majority of President Biden's pledged delegates pledge support for Harris, making her the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party.[264]

On July 23, U.S. House Representative Mary Peltola of Alaska's at-large congressional district and co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress said she has never endorsed anyone for president and does not intend to start with Harris.[265]

On July 24, Palmer released his delegates and encouraged them to vote for Harris at the convention.[266]

On July 25, U.S. House Representative Jared Golden of Maine's 2nd congressional district and co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress told Axios he would "absolutely not" commit to voting for the Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in November and is "going to wait and see what she puts forward and what her vision for the future of the country is.".[267]

On July 26, U.S. House Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington's 3rd congressional district and co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress said that she has "no plans" to endorse Harris. Perez was the last of the three members in the Blue Dog Coalition caucus's leadership, who publicly announced that they were not endorsing Harris for president.[268]

On July 29, Marianne Williamson ends her candidacy for the third and final time.[269]

August 2024

[edit]

On August 2, Vice President Kamala Harris earned a majority of delegate votes in the DNC roll call.[43]

On August 4, Twenty-nine Uncommitted delegates from eight states took part in a virtual roll call where they voted for Palestinian victims over Harris.[270]

On August 5, delegate voting closed, and Vice President Kamala Harris became the official presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.[42] 52 delegates voted abstained or voted against Harris, including Representative Mary Peltola, Representative Jared Golden, and Senator Jon Tester.[43]

On August 6, Harris chose Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate.[110]

Overview

[edit]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaignJason Palmer 2024 presidential campaignDean Phillips 2024 presidential campaignJoe Biden 2024 presidential campaignMarianne Williamson 2024 presidential campaignKamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign
Active campaign Exploratory committee Democratic National Convention
Withdrawn candidate Primaries

Early developments

[edit]

Biden declared his intent in January 2022 to run for re-election, keeping Kamala Harris as his running mate.[271] On September 15, he told Scott Pelley in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that he had not yet committed to run.[272] In a private conversation with civil-rights activist Al Sharpton on October 3, he reportedly told Sharpton that he was seeking re-election.[273] On October 11, he told Jake Tapper in an interview on CNN that he would decide whether or not to seek re-election after the 2022 midterm elections.[274]

Throughout 2022, several prominent Democrats publicly urged Biden not to run for a second term. On June 23, shortly after winning the Democratic nomination in the South Carolina gubernatorial race, former U.S. Representative Joe Cunningham told CNN that he believed Biden would be too old by the end of his second term and should not run in 2024. CNN pointed out that Biden had endorsed Cunningham in his 2018 and 2020 campaigns.[19] In July, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota said he believed that Democrats should nominate someone from a younger generation in 2024, and fellow Minnesota Representative Angie Craig agreed with him the following week.[20] On August 1, then-U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney told The New York Times that she thought Biden should not run in 2024 and that she believed he would not run. She later apologized and said that he should run again, though she reiterated her belief that he would not.[18] In September, U.S. Representative and Ohio U.S. Senate nominee Tim Ryan similarly called for a "generational move" away from Biden during an interview with a local TV station; Forbes Magazine noted that Biden, who had endorsed Ryan, headlined a rally with him just hours after the interview aired.[20]

In April 2023, Christale Spain became the first black woman to be the Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party; with the responsibility of organizing the party's first-in-the-nation primary.[275]

Format changes

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Democrats in Idaho, who held caucuses in 2012 and 2016 but switched to a firehouse primary by mail for the 2020 election, will switch back to in-person caucuses due to the abolition of the presidential primary by the Idaho Legislature in 2023.[276] Similarly, the abolition of the state-run presidential primary in Missouri in 2022 caused Democrats in Missouri to switch to a closed, ranked-choice firehouse presidential primary for 2024.[277]

Controversies

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Primary schedule

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President Biden sent a letter on December 1, 2022, to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), requesting that diversity should be emphasized in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. On February 4, 2023, the DNC formally approved the new 2024 primary calendar, moving South Carolina to hold its race first on February 3, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire on February 6. One member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee who supported this new plan, Lee Saunders, further said it will give a better representation of the composition of the country.[278] Members of the Iowa Democratic Party and the New Hampshire Democratic Party opposed the move, since they would no longer be the first two states to hold their races.[279] The move was also criticized by some progressives, who argued that the move was intended to benefit more moderate candidates.[280][281] On October 6, the DNC and the Iowa Democratic Party reached a compromise in which the in-person caucuses could still be held in January, but delegate-determining mail-in voting would be held through Super Tuesday, March 5.[197] The DNC and the New Hampshire Democratic Party did not reach a compromise. In October 2023, the manager for the Biden campaign, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, confirmed in a letter to the chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party Raymond Buckley that Biden would not appear on the primary ballot in order to comply with the DNC's calendar.[282] Pro-Biden New Hampshire Democrats, including Kathy Sullivan (the former chairwoman of the state Democratic party) and former Representatives Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter, launched a formal write-in campaign on October 30.[283]

Ballot access denials

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The primaries in Florida and Delaware were cancelled, with Biden receiving all pledged delegates, while in North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Indiana, no candidates other than Biden will appear on the ballot, partially due to decisions by the state Democratic parties in those states.[284][285] The Phillips and Williamson campaigns criticized the decisions as undemocratic.[286][287] The primary challengers had not received the necessary number of signatures in Tennessee[288][289] and North Carolina,[290] while the Florida Democratic Party stated that the challengers did not reach out to them until November 29, 2023, one day before the Florida Secretary of State's November 30 deadline to submit candidates, and the state party had already made its submission ahead of the deadline before November 29.[291][292] An attorney who supported Phillips[y] questioned why the state party did not contact the challengers when it made its submission ahead of the deadline.[294] On February 2, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled that election officials must include Phillips on the presidential primary ballot in Wisconsin.[295] Phillips won his lawsuit against State Justice Department attorneys representing the elections commission who were attempting to keep him off the ballot.[296]

Challengers having difficulties

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