Posted December 4, 2018 | by KimS | in DemDaily, Elections, Resource

DemDaily: The 2020 Presidential Calendar!

December 4, 2018

With the close of the November elections comes the launch of the 2020 presidential election cycle, and an anticipated roll out of candidate announcements in the coming months.

Although the general public may not have been tracking the activities of White House potentials prior to the midterm electons, aspiring presidential candidates have been actively campaigning, raising funds, and criss-crossing early presidential primary and caucus states in the "invisible primaries."

Congressman (MD) and announced Presidential Candidate John Delaney holds the record for visits to Iowa (pic: Charlie Neibergall/AP)

The Candidates
Over a dozen potential candidates have been on the trail for over a year, hoping to raise name recognition and support to distinguish themselves from the pack in the first critical primaries.

In Iowa's, home of the "first in the nation" caucuses, Congressman John Delaney (MD-6), who formally announced his presidential bid in July of 2017, leads the pack with 20 trips.

He is followed by Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA) with 14 trips, US Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley with nine trips, and Congressman Tim Ryan (OH) and New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang with six trips.

Others who have recently graced the Hawkeye state include former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julian Castro (TX), Author Marianne Williamson (CA), Governor Steve Bullock (MT), Governor Jay Inslee (WA), Senator Cory Booker (NJ), Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI).

Image: ElectionCentral

The Calendar

The release of the Federal Elections Commission's official presidential calendar is not expected before January, 2019, so to follow is DemLists' Initial Presidential Primary Calendar.

This is our best effort from cross-referencing 5-7 established public resources, including individual Secretary of State offices - all with varying information.

Dates are tentative, as a number of states and political parties are still finalizing decisions on their primary or caucus dates and/or are awaiting legal challenges. There are also a number of traditional caucus states that are switching to the primary system (more to come on that breakdown).

2020 Presidential Primary & Caucus Calendar

First Draft

Primary Elections are run by state & local governments. Caucuses are private events that run by the political parties themselves. Each state determines its own process, and/or a mix of both.