- In 2020, there are 19 key dates to know in the lead up to the US presidential election.
- Each night will bring Americans closer to knowing who the presidential nominees are.
- By June 6, the Democratic Party’s nominee should be clear. Here are all the dates you need to know.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
From now until to June, 18 nights will confirm who the 2020 presidential candidates are.
It’s likely that President Donald Trump will be the Republican’s candidate, but the race for the Democrat’s nominee is still wide open.
The Iowa caucus on Monday was the first election night of the year. It’s only a single caucus, but it’s important because it can be an indicator of what’s to come.
This year it was closely watched, but by the end of the night no victor was announced due to a malfunctioning reporting app. It was the first time it had ever happened.
Still, the race to be the next Democratic presidential nominee will continue. Other nights in the run up, like Super Tuesday on March 3, will be vital because they show a larger number of results.
Business Insider previously broke down the differences between primaries and caucuses. In a primary election, voters can turn up to vote for whichever candidate they prefer. There are two types: open and closed. Open primaries mean anyone can vote, even if the person is planning to vote for Republicans later. Closed primaries only allow those who are registered in the party to vote.
Caucuses are when voters head to venues and listen to debates and candidates' supporters, and then decide who to vote for. Candidates often need to meet certain thresholds in order to get delegates.
Here are all the important nights you need to know in the lead up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
February 3, 2020
- Iowa
February 11, 2020
- New Hampshire
February 22, 2020
- Nevada
The Republican party isn't holding a caucus for 2020.
February 29, 2020
- South Carolina
The state's Republican party also voted to skip their primary, automatically giving Trump all of their delegates.
March 3, 2020, a.k.a. "Super Tuesday"
- Alabama
- American Samoa
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Maine
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Democrats Abroad (which will continue until March 10)
March 10, 2020
- Idaho
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- Washington
March 14, 2020
- Northern Marianas
March 17, 2020
- Arizona
- Florida
- Illinois
- Ohio
March 24, 2020
- Georgia
March 29, 2020
- Puerto Rico
April 4, 2020
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Wyoming
April 7, 2020
- Wisconsin
April 28, 2020
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maryland
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
May 2, 2020
- Kansas
- Guam
May 5, 2020
- Indiana
May 12, 2020
- Nebraska
- West Virginia
May 19, 2020
- Kentucky
- Oregon
June 2, 2020
- District of Columbia
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
June 6, 2020
- Virgin Islands