Primary Election Dates
They're off and running
Convention Delegates as of March 11, 2004John Kerry 2162 Al Sharpton 27 Dennis Kucinich 23 John Edwards 534 Wesley Clark 57 Howard Dean 170 2,161 Delegates Needed for Nomination Sources: New York Times, and CNN More from Campaign 2004 Democratic Primary Candidates |
Caucuses and primary elections are ways for the general public to participate in nominating presidential candidates.
At a caucus, local party members gather to nominate a candidate. Caucuses are typically lively events at which party members and activists debate issues and consider candidates. The rules governing caucus procedures vary by party and by state.
A primary is more like a general election. Voters go to the polls to cast their votes for a presidential candidate (or delegates who will represent that candidate at the party convention). A primary is the main way voters choose a nominee.
Note: As of March 11, 2004, John Kerry had earned enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination. Results for Democratic primaries and caucuses held after March 2004 may not be widely reported.
January 19, 2004:
Iowa - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 38%; John Edwards, 32%; Howard Dean, 18%; Dick Gephardt, 11%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%; Al Sharpton, 0%
Notes: Clark and Lieberman did not campaign in Iowa; Dick Gephardt dropped out of the race on Jan. 20.
January 27, 2004:
New Hampshire - Presidential PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 39%; Howard Dean, 26%; Wesley Clark, 12%; John Edwards, 12%; Joe Lieberman, 9%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%; Al Sharpton, 0%
February 3, 2004:
Arizona - Presidential PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 43%; Wesley Clark, 27%; Howard Dean, 14%; John Edwards, 7%; Joe Lieberman, 7%; Dennis Kucinich, 2%; Al Sharpton, 0%
Delaware - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 50%; John Edwards, 11%; Joe Lieberman, 11%; Howard Dean, 10%; Wesley Clark, 10%; Al Sharpton, 6%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Missouri - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 51%; John Edwards, 25%; Howard Dean, 9%; Wesley Clark, 4%; Joe Lieberman, 4%; Al Sharpton, 3%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
New Mexico - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 42%; Wesley Clark, 21%; Howard Dean, 16%; John Edwards, 11%; Dennis Kucinich, 5%; Joe Lieberman, 3%
North Dakota - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 50%; Wesley Clark, 24%; Howard Dean, 12%; John Edwards, 10%; Dennis Kucinich, 3%; Joe Lieberman, 1%; Al Sharpton, 0%
Oklahoma - Presidential Primary
Results: Wesley Clark, 30%; John Edwards, 30%; John Kerry, 27%; Joe Lieberman, 6%; Howard Dean, 4%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%; Al Sharpton, 1%
South Carolina - Presidential Primary
Results: John Edwards, 45%; John Kerry, 30%; Al Sharpton, 10%; Wesley Clark, 7%; Howard Dean, 5%; Joe Lieberman, 2%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Notes: Lieberman dropped out of the race on February 3.
February 6–9:
Democrats AbroadFebruary 7, 2004:
Michigan - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 52%; Howard Dean, 17%; John Edwards, 13%; Al Sharpton, 7%; Wesley Clark, 7%; Dennis Kucinich, 3%
Washington - Democratic Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 48%; Howard Dean, 30%; Dennis Kucinich, 8%; John Edwards, 7%; Wesley Clark, 3%; Al Sharpton, 1%
February 8, 2004:
Maine - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 45%; Howard Dean, 27%; Dennis Kucinich, 16% John Edwards, 8%; Wesley Clark, 4%; Al Sharpton, 1%
February 10, 2004:
Tennessee - Presidential PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 41%; John Edwards, 27%; Wesley Clark, 23%; Howard Dean, 4%; Al Sharpton, 2%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Virginia - Democratic Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 52%; John Edwards, 27%; Wesley Clark, 9%; Howard Dean, 7%; Al Sharpton, 3%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Notes: Clark dropped out of the race on February 9.
February 14, 2004:
District of Columbia - Democratic Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 47%; Al Sharpton, 20%; Howard Dean, 17%; John Edwards, 10%; Dennis Kucinich, 3%
Nevada - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 63%; Howard Dean, 17%; John Edwards, 10%; Dennis Kucinich, 7%; Al Sharpton, 1%
February 17, 2004:
Wisconsin - Presidential PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 40%; John Edwards, 34%; Howard Dean, 18%; Dennis Kucinich, 3%; Al Sharpton, 2%
Notes: Dean dropped out of the race on February 18.
February 24, 2004:
Hawaii - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 50%; Dennis Kucinich, 26%; John Edwards, 14%; Howard Dean, 9%
Idaho - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 54%; John Edwards, 22%; Howard Dean, 11%; Dennis Kucinich, 6%
Utah - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 55%; John Edwards, 30%; Dennis Kucinich, 7%; Howard Dean, 4%; Al Sharpton, 0%
March 2, 2004:
California - Presidential & State PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 64%; John Edwards, 20%; Dennis Kucinich, 5%; Howard Dean, 4%; Al Sharpton, 2%
Connecticut - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 58%; John Edwards, 24%; Dennis Kucinich, 4%; Howard Dean, 3%; Al Sharpton, 3%
Georgia - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 47%; John Edwards, 42%; Al Sharpton, 6%; Dennis Kucinich, 2%; Howard Dean, 1%
Maryland - Presidential & State Primary
Results: John Kerry, 60%; John Edwards, 26%; Al Sharpton, 4%; Dennis Kucinich, 3%; Howard Dean, 1%
Massachusetts - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 72%; John Edwards, 18%; Dennis Kucinich, 4%; Howard Dean, 3%; Al Sharpton, 1%
Minnesota - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 51%; John Edwards, 27%; Dennis Kucinich, 17%; Howard Dean, 2%; Al Sharpton, 1%
New York - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 61%; John Edwards, 20%; Al Sharpton, 8%; Dennis Kucinich, 5%; Howard Dean, 3%
Ohio - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 52%; John Edwards, 34%; Dennis Kucinich, 9%; Howard Dean, 3%
Rhode Island - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 71%; John Edwards, 19%; Dennis Kucinich, 4%; Howard Dean, 3%
Vermont - Presidential Primary
Results: Howard Dean, 58%; John Kerry, 34%; Dennis Kucinich, 4%
Notes: Edwards dropped out of the race on March 3.
March 8, 2004:
American SamoaResults: Not yet available.
March 9, 2004:
Florida - Presidential PrimaryResults: John Kerry, 77%; John Edwards, 10%; Al Sharpton, 3%; Howard Dean, 3%; Dennis Kucinich, 2%
Louisiana - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 70%; John Edwards, 16%; Howard Dean, 5%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Mississippi - Presidential Primary
Results: John Kerry, 78%; John Edwards, 7%; Al Sharpton, 5%; Howard Dean, 3%; Dennis Kucinich, 1%
Texas - Presidential & State Primaries
Results: John Kerry, 67%; John Edwards, 14%; Howard Dean, 5%; Al Sharpton, 4%; Dennis Kucinich, 2%
March 13, 2004:
Kansas - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 72%; Dennis Kucinich, 10%; John Edwards, 9%; Howard Dean, 7%; Wesley Clark, 1%
March 16, 2004:
Illinois - Presidential & State PrimariesResults: John Kerry, 72%; John Edwards, 11%; Howard Dean, 4%; Al Sharpton, 3%; Dennis Kucinich, 2%; Joe Lieberman, 2%; Wesley Clark, 1%
March 20, 2004:
Alaska - Presidential CaucusesResults: John Kerry, 48%; Dennis Kucinich, 26%; Howard Dean, 11%; John Edwards, 3%
Guam - Presidential Caucuses
Results: Not yet available.
Wyoming - Presidential Caucuses
Results: John Kerry, 77%; Dennis Kucinich, 6%; John Edwards, 4%; Howard Dean, 3%
April 13, 2004:
Colorado - Presidential CaucusesResults: Not yet available.
April 17, 2004:
U.S. Virgin Islands - Presidential CaucusesResults: Not yet available.
April 27, 2004:
Pennsylvania - Presidential & State PrimariesResults: John Kerry, 74%; Howard Dean, 10%; John Edwards, 10%; Dennis Kucinich, 4%
May 4, 2004:
Indiana - Presidential & State PrimaryNorth Carolina - Presidential & State Primaries
May 11, 2004:
Nebraska - Presidential & State PrimaryWest Virginia - Presidential & State Primary
May 18, 2004:
Arkansas - Presidential & State PrimaryKentucky - Presidential & State Primaries
Oregon - Presidential & State Primary
May 25, 2004:
Idaho - Presidential & State PrimaryMay 27–31, 2004
Libertarian Party — Presidential Nominating Convention (Atlanta, GA)June 1, 2004:
Alabama — Presidential & State PrimariesSouth Dakota — Presidential & State Primary
June 6, 2004:
Puerto Rico — Presidential CaucusesJune 8, 2004:
Montana — Presidential & State PrimariesNew Jersey — Presidential & State Primaries
Week of July 26, 2004:
Democratic National Convention (Boston, MA)August 30–September 2, 2004:
Republican National Convention (New York City, NY)November 2, 2004
— General Election Day