Key dates in the 2024 presidential election

Depending on how you look at it, Americans this year have either been treated — or subjected — to what in essence amounts to two separate presidential elections: one between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and now, an entirely different race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. It's little exaggeration to say that what once seemed like a staid rehash of 2020 has now become one of the most dynamic, contentious elections in recent memory. 

Still, for as unpredictable as this election has already been, it has continued to follow the same basic schedule and structure of elections past. Key milestones like state primaries, party conventions and filing deadlines remain the signposts by which we measure our collective approach toward election day itself. 

With the general election in full swing and November 5 drawing ever closer, here are the key dates we've passed, and the ones we can still look forward to before casting our ballots. And remember, as the Federal Election Commission warns: "the dates listed are tentative and subject to change."

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January

15: Iowa caucus (Republicans)
23: New Hampshire primary

February

3: South Carolina primary (Democrats)
6: Nevada primary
8: Nevada caucus (Republicans)
8: U.S. Virgin Islands caucus (Republicans)
24: South Carolina primary (Republicans)
27: Michigan primary

March

2: Idaho caucus (Republicans)
2: Missouri caucus (Republicans)
4: North Dakota caucus (Republicans)
5: Alabama primary
5: Alaska caucus (Republicans)
5: American Samoa caucus (Democrats)
5: Arkansas primary
5: California primary
5: Colorado primary
5: Iowa caucus (Democrats)
5: Maine primary
5: Massachusetts primary
5: Minnesota primary
5: North Carolina primary
5: Oklahoma primary
5: Tennessee primary
5: Texas primary
5: Utah primary
5: Vermont primary
5: Virginia primary
12: Georgia primary
12: Hawaii caucus (Republicans)
12: Mississippi primary
12: North Mariana Islands primary (Democrats)
12: Washington primary
17: Puerto Rico primary (Democrats)
19: Arizona primary
19: Florida primary
19: Illinois primary
19: Kansas primary
19: Ohio primary
23: Louisiana primary
23: Missouri primary (Democrats)

April

2: Connecticut primary
2: Delaware primary
2: New York primary
2: Rhode Island primary
2: Wisconsin primary
6: Alaska primary (Democrats)
6: Hawaii primary (Democrats)
6: North Dakota primary (Democrats)
13: Wyoming caucus (Democrats)

15: Donald Trump "hush money" trial begins in New York

20: Wyoming caucus (Republicans)
23: Pennsylvania primary

May

7: Indiana primary
14: Maryland primary
14: Nebraska primary
14: West Virginia primary
21: Kentucky primary
21: Oregon primary
23: Idaho caucus (Democrats) 

31: Donald Trump convicted in "hush money" trial — New York City, NY

June

4: Washington, D.C. primary
4: Montana primary
4: New Jersey primary
4: New Mexico primary
4: South Dakota primary
8: Guam caucus (Democrats) 

27: First Biden/Trump debate — Atlanta, GA

July

15: Republican National Convention in Milwaukee opens
18: Republican National Convention in Milwaukee closes

21: Biden suspends his re-election campaign and endorses Harris

August

19: Democratic National Convention in Chicago opens
22: Democratic National Convention in Chicago closes

September

10: First Harris/Trump debate — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

18: Trump "hush money" sentencing (scheduled) — New York City, NY

October

1: First vice-presidential debate — New York City, New York 

TBD: Second Harris/Trump debate — No details released yet

November

5: Election day

December

17: State electors vote for president and vice president