When is the 2024 Democratic primary? A state-by-state guide to the election schedule

Decision day 2024 is fast approaching, and another fierce election cycle is already underway. A shrinking field of candidates is duking it out on the Republican side, each attempting to catch up to former President Donald Trump who leads the polls by double digits.

The Democratic side has been relatively quiet, by comparison, with only a few other candidates throwing their hat in the ring to challenge President Joe Biden. Though Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a splash initially with surprisingly high polling numbers, he has since changed his registration to independent, all but ensuring his presence on the ballot in many states for the general election.

But first, the primaries. Here's a (tentative) guide to the Democratic primary calendar for 2024.

Who is running for president in 2024? A closer look at each candidate ahead of the election

What is a caucus?

Some states hold primaries, while others opt for a caucus. While a primary election is run by state and local governments, a caucus is run by political parties. A traditional primary election resembles the general election, with voting taking place via private ballot.

A caucus, however, involves voters dividing themselves into groups based on the candidate they prefer, and arguing for others to join them. At the end of the caucus, the number of members in each group determines how many delegates that candidate gets.

Up for grabs in each caucus and primary is a certain number of delegates. The delegates are sent to each party's national convention, and the candidate with the majority secures the nomination.

January 15

• Iowa (caucus)

January 23

• New Hampshire

Secretary of State David Scanlan announced that New Hampshire's first-in-nation primary will take place on January 23, despite efforts from the Democratic National Committee to shake up the schedule. In an effort to elevate more diverse voters, the DNC announced earlier this year that South Carolina would be the first primary, booting New Hampshire. The state has refused to comply though, likely resulting in them losing many of their delegates at the 2024 national convention.

February 3

• South Carolina

South Carolina was the first Democratic primary in the country. Biden coasted to an easy victory early in the evening, beating Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. and author Marianne Williamson.

February 6

• Nevada

Joe Biden took home an easy win in Nevada with 89.4% of the vote.

February 27

• Michigan

March 5

• Alabama

• Arkansas

• California

• Colorado

• Maine

• Massachusettes

• Minnesota

• North Carolina

• Oklahoma

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

March 12

• Georgia

• Mississippi

• Washington

March 19

• Arizona

• Florida

• Illinois

• Kansas

• Ohio

March 23

• Louisiana

• Missouri

April 2

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• New York

• Rhode Island

• Wisconsin

April 6

• Alaska

• Hawaii

• North Dakota

April 13

• Wyoming (caucus)

April 23

• Pennsylvania

April 28

• Puerto Rico

May 7

• Indiana

May 14

• Maryland

• Nebraska

• West Virginia

May 21

• Kentucky

• Oregon

May 23

• Idaho (caucus)

June 4

• Montana

• New Jersey

• New Mexico

• South Dakota

• Washington D.C.

June 8

• Virgin Islands (caucus)

• Guam (caucus)

When is the next primary? 2024 Presidential Primary Election Schedule By Date

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 Democratic primary schedule by date: A state-by-state guide.