Below, you’ll find Daily Kos Elections’ calendar of filing deadlines, primaries, and runoffs for the 2024 elections. For a sortable version of this calendar, click here. Beneath the table, you’ll find detailed notes on requirements for runoffs, exceptions to filing deadlines, and important conventions.
Notes
- Dates in bold are simultaneous presidential and downballot primaries.
- Dates in italics are caucuses.
- Dates in gold-shaded cells have not yet been confirmed.
- Filing deadlines are for major-party, non-presidential candidates only.
RUNOFFS
- Primary runoffs between the top two vote-getters may take place in some states if no candidate receives over a certain threshold of the vote in the primary:
- 30% in North Carolina (only if requested by the runner-up)
- 35% in South Dakota
- 50% in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas
- Georgia conducts a general election runoff between the top two vote-getters on Dec. 3 if no candidate receives a majority on Nov. 5.
- Louisiana conducts a general election runoff between the top two vote-getters on Dec. 7 if no candidate receives a majority on Nov. 5.
FILING DEADLINES
All filing deadlines on the calendar above are for major-party candidates and apply to only congressional and statewide races unless noted below. Independent and third-party candidates, or contests for other races, may be subject to different deadlines.
- California’s filing deadline is extended to Dec. 13 in races where no incumbent files for reelection.
- Massachusetts requires candidates to file with local election officials by May 7. State-level candidates must file again with the secretary of the commonwealth by May 28 while federal candidates must do so by June 4. The first step is therefore necessary but not sufficient for candidates to appear on the primary ballot.
- Missouri’s filing deadline is extended to April 5 in races where a candidate withdraws within two business days of the statutory March 26 deadline.
- Nebraska’s filing deadline for incumbents, regardless of whether they seek reelection or another office, is Feb. 15.
- New Mexico allows major-party candidates who fail to obtain 20% of the vote at party conventions to submit additional signatures in order to appear on the primary ballot.
- Rhode Island requires candidates to file their names with election officials by June 26. They must then file petitions approximately two weeks later. The first step is therefore necessary but not sufficient for candidates to appear on the primary ballot.
- Utah requires candidates to file a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor’s office by Mar. 4, then either submit sufficient signatures by April 9 or win sufficient support at a party convention on April 23. The first step is therefore necessary but not sufficient for candidates to appear on the primary ballot.
CONVENTIONS
- Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, and Utah parties typically conduct conventions prior to their primaries that can impact primary ballot access.
- Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota parties select nominees for downballot statewide office (such as attorney general and secretary of state) at conventions.
- Iowa parties conduct conventions to select nominees if no candidate receives over 35% of the vote in the primary.
- Minnesota parties conduct conventions after which candidates who fail to win their party’s endorsement often (but not always) drop out.
- Virginia parties, at their discretion, may select nominees at conventions rather than via primaries.
Sources: FEC, The Green Papers, Frontloading HQ, state elections sites and statutes