The Primary Election Calendar:

The election calendar should be constructed purposefully such that the timing of the primaries is not too early, yet not too late; not too fast, yet not too slow. The first primary date should be in early February* and all primaries will be completed prior to Memorial Day. To preserve the opportunity for lesser-known candidates to engage retail politics in early states and build momentum for subsequent contests, allowing two weeks between early primary dates and limiting the size of Super Tuesday contests is necessary.** 

​

*  The first primary date will be the Tuesday following the first Monday in February.

 

** The primary election calendar dates for 2020-2044 and the number of states involved on each date are provided below.

 

                  2020     2024     2028      2032      2036     2040     2044

3 states      Feb 4      Feb 6      Feb 8       Feb 3      Feb 5      Feb 7      Feb 2

        

3 states     Feb 18    Feb 20    Feb 22     Feb 17   Feb 19     Feb 21    Feb 16 

        

6 states       Mar 3      Mar 5       Mar 7       Mar 2      Mar 4      Mar 6       Mar 1

        

3 states      Mar 17    Mar 19    Mar 21     Mar 16    Mar 18    Mar 20     Mar 15

3 states      Mar 24    Mar 26    Mar 28     Mar 23    Mar 25    Mar 27     Mar 22

        

6 states       Apr 7      Apr 9      Apr 11     Apr 6       Apr 8     Apr 10      Apr 5

        

3 states      Apr 21    Apr 23     Apr 25    Apr 20    Apr 22    Apr 24     Apr 19

3 states      Apr 28    Apr 30      May 2    Apr 27    Apr 29     May 1      Apr 26

6 states       May 5     May 7       May 9    May 4      May 6     May 8       May 3

6 states      May 12   May 14     May 16  May 11   May 13   May 15     May 10

8 states      May 19   May 21     May 23  May 18   May 20   May 22     May 17