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State Primary Election Dates
The dates for state primaries are listed below, sorted by state and by date. These primaries are used by political parties to determine which candidates for legislative seats will go on the general election ballot on Nov. 8, 2016. (For presidential primary dates, scroll down.)
The earliest state primaries are held on March 1, and the latest in mid-Sept. June is the busiest primary month, while there are no primaries being held in July.
Eight states have reserved dates for a primary runoff in the event that no candidate gets the requisite percentage of votes. For details on how runoffs work in these states, visit NCSL's Primary Runoffs webpage.
The manner in which party primary elections are conducted varies widely from state to state. Please visit the State Primary Elections page for information on types of primaries, such as "closed," "open" and "Top Two."
Note that primary dates are subject to change.
For additional information, contact NCSL's Election Team at 303-364-7700.
State Primary Election Dates
|
Alpha Order
|
|
Date Order
|
| State |
2016 State Primary | Runoff Date |
|
State |
2016 State Primary | Runoff Date |
| Alabama |
March 1* | April 12 |
|
Alabama |
March 1* | April 12 |
| Alaska |
Aug. 16 |
|
Arkansas |
March 1 | March 22 |
| Arizona |
Aug. 30 |
|
Texas |
March 1 | May 24 |
| Arkansas |
March 1 | March 22 |
|
Mississippi |
Mar. 8*/Mar.29* |
| California |
June 7 |
|
Illinois |
March 15 |
| Colorado |
June 28 |
|
North Carolina |
March 15 |
| Connecticut |
Aug. 9 |
|
Ohio |
March 15 |
| Delaware |
Sept. 13 |
|
Maryland |
April 26* |
| Florida |
Aug. 30 |
|
Pennsylvania |
April 26 |
| Georgia |
May 24 | July 26 |
|
Indiana |
May 3 |
| Hawaii |
Aug. 13 |
|
Nebraska |
May 10 |
| Idaho |
May 17 |
|
West Virginia |
May 10 |
| Illinois |
March 15 |
|
Idaho |
May 17 |
| Indiana |
May 3 |
|
Kentucky |
May 17 |
| Iowa |
June 7 |
|
Oregon |
May 17 |
| Kansas |
Aug. 2 |
|
Georgia |
May 24 | July 26 |
| Kentucky |
May 17 |
|
California |
June 7 |
| Louisiana |
Nov. 8**/Dec.10** |
|
Iowa |
June 7 |
| Maine |
June 14 |
|
Montana |
June 7 |
| Maryland |
April 26* |
|
New Jersey |
June 7* |
| Massachusetts |
Sept. 8 |
|
New Mexico |
June 7 |
| Michigan |
Aug. 2 |
|
South Dakota |
June 7 | Aug. 16 |
| Minnesota |
Aug. 9 |
|
Maine |
June 14 |
| Mississippi |
Mar. 8*/Mar.29* |
|
Nevada |
June 14 |
| Missouri |
Aug. 2 |
|
North Dakota |
June 14 |
| Montana |
June 7 |
|
Virginia |
June 14* |
| Nebraska |
May 10 |
|
South Carolina |
June 14 | June 28 |
| Nevada |
June 14 |
|
Colorado |
June 28 |
| New Hampshire |
Sept. 13 |
|
Utah |
June 28 |
| New Jersey |
June 7* |
|
Oklahoma |
June 28 | Aug. 23 |
| New Mexico |
June 7 |
|
Kansas |
Aug. 2 |
| New York |
Sept. 13 |
|
Michigan |
Aug. 2 |
| North Carolina |
March 15 |
|
Missouri |
Aug. 2 |
| North Dakota |
June 14 |
|
Washington |
Aug. 2 |
| Ohio |
March 15 |
|
Tennessee |
Aug. 4 |
| Oklahoma |
June 28 | Aug. 23 |
|
Connecticut |
Aug. 9 |
| Oregon |
May 17 |
|
Minnesota |
Aug. 9 |
| Pennsylvania |
April 26 |
|
Vermont |
Aug. 9 |
| Rhode Island |
Sept. 13 |
|
Wisconsin |
Aug. 9 |
| South Carolina |
June 14 | June 28 |
|
Hawaii |
Aug. 13 |
| South Dakota |
June 7 | Aug. 16 |
|
Alaska |
Aug. 16 |
| Tennessee |
Aug. 4 |
|
Wyoming |
Aug. 16 |
| Texas |
March 1 | May 24 |
|
Arizona |
Aug. 30 |
| Utah |
June 28 |
|
Florida |
Aug. 30 |
| Vermont |
Aug. 9 |
|
Massachusetts |
Sept. 8 |
| Virginia |
June 14* |
|
Delaware |
Sept. 13 |
| Washington |
Aug. 2 |
|
New Hampshire |
Sept. 13 |
| West Virginia |
May 10 |
|
New York |
Sept. 13 |
| Wisconsin |
Aug. 9 |
|
Rhode Island |
Sept. 13 |
| Wyoming |
Aug. 16 |
|
Louisiana |
Nov. 8**/Dec.10** |
*No primary for state legislative seats in 2016.
**Louisiana holds its primary for all parties on the same day the rest of the country holds its General Election (in 2016, on November 8). If needed, a runoff is held in December.
**Anticipated date, subject to change.
Presidential Primary Dates
Presidential Primary Dates
| State |
2016 Presidential Primary Date |
| Alabama |
March 1 |
| Alaska |
March 1 (R) / March 26 (D) both caucuses |
| Arizona |
March 22 |
| Arkansas |
March 1 |
| California |
June 7 |
| Colorado |
March 1 caucus (both parties) |
| Connecticut |
April 26 |
| Delaware |
April 26 |
| Florida |
March 15 |
| Georgia |
March 1 |
| Hawaii |
March 8 (R) / March 26 (D) caucuses |
| Idaho |
March 8 (R) primary / March 22 (D) caucus |
| Illinois |
March 15 |
| Indiana |
May 3 |
| Iowa |
Feb. 1 caucuses (both parties) |
| Kansas |
March 5 caucuses |
| Kentucky |
March 5 (R) caucus/ May 17 primary (D) |
| Louisiana |
March 5 |
| Maine |
March 5 (R) / March 6 (D) both caucuses |
| Maryland |
April 26 |
| Massachusetts |
March 1 |
| Michigan |
March 8 |
| Minnesota |
March 1 caucuses (both parties) |
| Mississippi |
March 8 |
| Missouri |
March 15 |
| Montana |
June 7 |
| Nebraska |
March 5 (D) caucus, May 10 primary (R) |
| Nevada |
Feb 20 (D)/ Feb 23 (R) caucuses |
| New Hampshire |
Feb. 9 |
| New Jersey |
June 7 |
| New Mexico |
June 7 |
| New York |
April 19 |
| North Carolina |
March 15 |
| North Dakota |
March 1 (R) / June 7 (D) both caucuses |
| Ohio |
March 15 |
| Oklahoma |
March 1 |
| Oregon |
May 17 |
| Pennsylvania |
April 26 |
| Rhode Island |
April 26 |
| South Carolina |
Feb. 20 (R) / Feb. 27 (D) primaries |
| South Dakota |
June 7 |
| Tennessee |
March 1 |
| Texas |
March 1 |
| Utah |
March 22 caucuses (both parties) |
| Vermont |
March 1 |
| Virginia |
March 1 |
| Washington |
Feb 20 (R ) / March 26 (D) caucuses |
| West Virginia |
May 10 |
| Wisconsin |
April 5 |
| Wyoming |
March 1 (R) / April 9 (D) caucuses |
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