Below, you’ll find Daily Kos Elections’ calendar of filing deadlines, primaries, and runoffs for the 2024 elections. Beneath the table, you’ll find detailed notes on requirements for runoffs, exceptions to filing deadlines, and important conventions.
For a sortable version of this calendar, click here. For a version you can add as a Google calendar, click here.
Notes
- Dates in bold are simultaneous presidential and downballot primaries.
- Dates in italics are caucuses.
- Filing deadlines are for primary ballot access 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.
- Florida’s filing deadline for candidates running for state legislature or county office is June 14.
- Massachusetts requires federal candidates to file with local election officials by May 7 and again with the secretary of the commonwealth by June 4. (For state-level candidates, the respective deadlines are April 30 and May 28.) 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 March 26 deadline.
- Nebraska’s filing deadline for incumbents, regardless of whether they seek reelection or another office, is Feb. 15. The filing deadline for non-incumbents is March 1.
- New Mexico's filing deadline for candidates running for statewide office or the U.S. House is Feb. 6. Candidates who obtain at least 20% of the vote at their party's convention, which must be held by March 10, will appear on the primary ballot. Candidates who fail to meet this threshold may submit additional signatures by March 19 to appear on the primary ballot. Candidates for all other offices must file by March 12.
- Rhode Island requires candidates to file their names with election officials by June 26. They must then file petitions by July 12. 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 election officials by Jan. 8, then either submit sufficient signatures on April 13 (two weeks prior to their party’s convention) or win sufficient support at their party’s convention. (Both Democrats and Republicans will hold conventions on April 27.) 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. In 2024, all nominees will be chosen via primaries.
Sources: FEC, The Green Papers, Frontloading HQ, state elections sites and statutes
