Even with Super Tuesday now behind us, there are several key dates worth taking note of about the 2024 presidential election in the United States.
As of March 12th, both incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump secured enough delegates to be the presumptive nominees for their respective parties.
There are still a lot of events, though, that have yet to take place that will permit additional insights into each candidate’s presidential outlook before heading to the political betting sites.
Of course, we will also want to keep track of the other key dates that extend to events more directly related to the presidential election.
April
Tuesday 2nd — Primaries
While a few other states will have held their primaries between March 19 and April 2, April 2 really constitutes a key date.
On April 2, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin will hold their primaries for both parties.
May
Tuesday 14th — Primaries
This is the last date on which three or more states will hold their primaries.
For both parties, primaries will take place in Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia.
June
Tuesday 4th — Primaries
Washington D.C. will hold its primary for the Democrats.
This is a big day because four other states are in play for both parties: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota will hold primaries.
July
Monday 15th – Thursday 18th — Republican Convention
The Republican Convention begins on July 15. It will take place in Milwaukee.
The choice of Milwaukee is certainly a deliberate one. This is a strong blue city nested within a key battleground state that Republicans will be particularly keen on winning.
Organizers of this event articulate the possibilities in play for showcasing the Republican Party and what it has to offer.
In this sense, because it is such a big and public event, the Republican Convention forms part of an election strategy for the Republican presidential candidate.
More concretely, this is the place where the presidential and vice-presidential nominees will be established by the pledged and unpledged delegates representing the different states and territories that participated in the primaries.
August
Monday 19th – Thursday 22nd — Democrat Convention
It is a tradition that the party occupying the White House holds its convention after the other party. This tradition explains why the Democrat Convention, which starts on August 19 and takes place in Chicago, will be held after its Republican counterpart.
At this Convention, the same basic events will unfold as in the Republican one. The delegates will select the presidential and vice-presidential nominees for the Democratic party.
Likewise, the idea is to unify the party around the nominated presidential and vice-presidential candidates and to otherwise showcase the party.
September
Monday 16th
This is when the presidential election really starts to feel real.
On this date, the first presidential debate will be held. It will take place in San Marcos, Texas.
Wednesday 25th
On this day, the nominated vice president for each party will debate the other party’s nominated vice president.
This debate will take place in Easton, Pennsylvania.
October
Tuesday 1st
The second presidential debate will take place on this day. Petersburg, Virginia will be the site of this debate.
Wednesday 9th
There will be a third and final presidential debate. This last one is slated to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.
November
Tuesday 5th — Election Day
The most important date to note is November 5. November 5 is Election Day.
December
Tuesday 17th
Remember that you are, precisely speaking, not voting for a presidential candidate but for electors in your state who represent you and who will choose who will be President and Vice President. The given state’s political party of the candidate who has won that state will decide who the electors are.
Past Dates
March
Tuesday 19th — Primaries
March 19 is another important date for both parties given the number of states involved.
For both the Democrats and the Republicans, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, and Arizona will hold their primaries.
Tuesday 12th — Primaries
The next key date is Tuesday, March 12.
On this day, for the Democrats, Democrats Abroad (for U.S. citizens living outside the country), Georgia, Mississippi, Northern Mariana and Washington will hold their primaries.
For the Republicans, Georgia, Mississippi and Washington hold their primaries. Also for the Republicans, Hawaii will hold a caucus.
