2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries

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 most U.S. states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories, and Democrats Abroad. Incumbent President Joe Biden ran for re-election with Vice President Kamala Harris returning as his running mate. On March 12, Biden secured enough delegates for re-nomination and was declared the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. Biden dropped out on July 21.

While Biden had repeatedly expressed his intent to run for re-election since 2021, there was speculation in the first two years of his presidency that he might not seek re-election due to his age and low approval ratings. Former Democratic House representatives including Carolyn Maloney, Joe Cunningham and Tim Ryan had publicly said Biden should not run. There had been speculation that Biden may face a primary challenge, especially from a member of the Democratic Party's progressive faction.

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. On April 25, 2023, Biden announced via a video that he would be running for re-election.

Eventually, three main primary opponents emerged; self-help author Marianne Williamson declared her candidacy in March 2023. Anti-vaccine activist and environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Multiple sources:
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.
 * declared in April, while Representative Dean Phillips declared in October. Additionally, in 2024, some Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, progressives, and socialists began advocating for an 'uncommitted' vote as protest vote against Biden due to his support of Israel during the Israel–Hamas war.

Kennedy withdrew from the Democratic primaries in October 2023 to run as an independent candidate. Williamson suspended her campaign following the Nevada primary in February 2024, before unsuspending her campaign following the Michigan primary later that month. On March 6, 2024, Phillips suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Phillips received the second-highest number of delegates in the primaries (four delegates gained).

Biden lost American Samoa to venture capitalist Jason Palmer, becoming the first incumbent president to lose a contest while appearing on the ballot since Jimmy Carter in 1980. However, he won every other contest by a large margin. No incumbent president has lost renomination since 1884.

Candidates
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.

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

Declared

 * Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (2021-present) and former U.S. Senator from California (2017-2021)

Potential

 * Gretchen Whitmer
 * Gavin Newsom
 * Pete Buttigieg
 * Josh Shapiro
 * JB Pritzker
 * Andy Beshear
 * Wes Moore
 * Amy Klobuchar
 * Cory Booker
 * Raphael Warnock
 * Michelle Obama

Other candidates

 * Terrisa Bukovinac, anti-abortion activist and former president of Democrats for Life of America from Washington, D.C.
 * Paperboy Prince, artist, community activist, and perennial candidate from New York
 * Vermin Supreme, performance artist, activist, and perennial candidate from Massachusetts; former Libertarian Party Judicial Committee member (2020–2022)

Other candidates

 * Cenk Uygur, co-creator of The Young Turks, co-founder of Justice Democrats, Democratic candidate for CA's 25th congressional district in 2020 (withdrew March 6, 2024)

Other candidates

 * Jerome Segal, research scholar and Bread and Roses Party nominee for president in 2020 (ran for U.S. Senate in Maryland)

Vice-presidential candidate selection
On January 19, 2022, President Biden confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris will again be his running mate in his 2024 re-election campaign.

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. She later clarified her position, saying she supported the Biden–Harris ticket.

Following Biden's withdrawal, several names were suggested as possible running mates if Harris was nominated to replace him. These included Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Primaries and caucus calendar

 * Canceled: Florida (224 delegates), Delaware (19 delegates) 

February 2023
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. 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.

March 2023
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.

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

April 2023
On April 6, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files to challenge Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary.

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.

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

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.

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

June 2023
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.

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

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.

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

September 2023
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.

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

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

October 2023
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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

November 2023
On November 15, The New Hampshire presidential primary date is set for January 23, 2024, defying the DNC's planned schedule.

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.

December 2023
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.

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.

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

January 2024
On January 8, New England College hosts a debate between Williamson and Phillips in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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

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.

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

February 2024
On February 3, President Biden wins the South Carolina Democratic primary.

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

On February 7, Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson drops out of the race.

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

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

March 2024
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.

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

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

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.

On March 19, President Biden wins the Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio primaries.

On March 22, The North Dakota Democratic primary begins, with voting taking place almost entirely by mail.

On March 23, President Biden wins the Louisiana and Missouri primaries.

On March 30, President Biden wins the mail-in ballots in the North Dakota Democratic primary.

April 2024
On April 2, President Biden wins the Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Delaware primaries.

On April 13, President Biden wins the Wyoming caucus and the Alaska primary.

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

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

May 2024
On May 7, President Biden wins the Indiana Democratic primary.

On May 14, President Biden wins the Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia primaries.

On May 15, CNN announces a presidential debate to be held between Biden and Trump on June 27, prior to the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions, while ABC News announces another will be held on September 10.

On May 21, President Biden wins the Kentucky and Oregon primaries.

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

June 2024
On June 4, President Biden wins the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota primaries.

On June 8, President Biden wins the Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic caucuses.

On June 27, Biden and Trump held a campaign debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, prior to the nominating conventions.

July 2024
On July 21, Biden dropped out of the election and endorsed Kamala Harris.

Early developments
Biden declared his intent in January 2022 to run for re-election, keeping Kamala Harris as his running mate. On September 15, he told Scott Pelley in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that he had not yet committed to run. In a private conversation with civil-rights activist Al Sharpton on October 3, he reportedly told Sharpton that he was seeking re-election. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

Format changes
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. 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.

Primary schedule
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. 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. The move was also criticized by some progressives, who argued that the move was intended to benefit more moderate candidates. 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. 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. 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.

Ballot access denials
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. The Phillips and Williamson campaigns criticized the decisions as undemocratic. The primary challengers had not received the necessary number of signatures in Tennessee and North Carolina, 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. An attorney who supported Phillips questioned why the state party did not contact the challengers when it made its submission ahead of the deadline.

Challengers having difficulties
Phillips accused representatives of the Biden campaign of not giving him the same opportunities as Biden to be platformed by liberal media outlets.

Debates and forums
On December 6, 2023, TYT Network hosted a forum featuring primary candidates Williamson, Phillips and Uygur. Biden was invited but declined to attend. The candidates responded to the GOP debate being held in Tuscaloosa, which was scheduled to end at the same time. The discussion was moderated by John Iadarola, the main host of The Damage Report on the same network.

On January 8, 2024, Williamson and Phillips participated in a debate hosted by New England College in Manchester, New Hampshire. To qualify, candidates needed to be registered on the New Hampshire primary ballot and poll at more than five percent. The debate was broadcast on satellite radio by Sirius XM and was moderated by Josh McElveen, who was the former political director of WMUR.

On January 12, 2024, NewsNation hosted a second forum featuring Williamson, Phillips and Uygur. Biden was invited but did not attend. The discussion was moderated by Dan Abrams.

Campaign finance
This is an overview of the money used by each campaign as it is reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Totals raised include individual contributions, loans from the candidate, and transfers from other campaign committees. Individual contributions are itemized (catalogued) by the FEC when the total value of contributions by an individual comes to more than $200. The last column, Cash On Hand, shows the remaining cash each campaign had available for its future spending as of December 31, 2023. Campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2024 will become available on April 15, 2024.

This table does not include contributions made to Super PACs or party committees supporting the candidate. Each value is rounded up to the nearest dollar.

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