Primary Matters

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, elected officials and party leaders chose presidential candidates at the conventions. Reformers began promoting primaries—elections to pick party nominees—in the late 1800s, saying party bosses were cutting backroom deals to select nominees. The first primaries occurred in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until after World War II that they began to play a significant role in choosing candidates.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, elected officials and party leaders chose presidential candidates at the conventions. Reformers claimed that party bosses were cutting backroom deals to select nominees. In response, the reformers began promoting primaries in the late 1800s. These elections were designed to pick party nominees. The first primaries occurred in the early 1900s, but they didn’t begin to play a significant role in choosing candidates until after World War II.

A primary works very much like a general election. On dates selected by each state, the District of Columbia, and territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam, voters head to polling places to cast secret ballots. Based on the results, the state parties allocate delegates for each candidate to the national convention, where the presidential nominee is formally chosen. At the Republican convention, the nominee will need a majority of the approximately 2,500 delegates; the Democratic nominee will need a majority of the approximately 4,700 delegates.

A primary works very much like a general election. The dates are chosen by each state, the District of Columbia, and territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. During primaries, voters head to polling places to cast secret ballots. Based on the results, the state parties allot delegates for each candidate to the national convention. The presidential nominee is formally chosen at each party’s convention. At the Republican convention, the nominee will need a majority of the approximately 2,500 delegates. The Democratic nominee will need a majority of the approximately 4,700 delegates.

Some states, like Iowa, have caucuses rather than primaries (see map). In caucuses, party members meet at the district or precinct level—gathering at schools, churches, and even private homes—to discuss the candidates and the issues. Then they publicly declare who they’re supporting (usually by moving to a designated corner of the room). Iowa has about 1,700 precincts, each hosting its own caucus.

Some states, like Iowa, have caucuses rather than primaries (see map). In caucuses, party members meet at the district or precinct level to discuss the candidates and the issues. They gather at schools, churches, and even private homes. Then they publicly declare who they’re supporting. This declaration is usually done by moving to a designated corner of the room. Iowa has about 1,700 precincts. Each one hosts its own caucus.

In most recent elections, a candidate from each party has collected enough delegates in the primaries to all but guarantee the nomination. This has turned the conventions into little more than three-day-long TV ads for the candidates, since the actual tallying of votes is just a formality. But a tight race among Democrats in 2020 could lead to a convention fight, which last happened in 1976, when President Gerald Ford narrowly beat Ronald Reagan to win the Republican nomination.

In most recent elections, a candidate from each party has collected enough delegates in the primaries to all but guarantee the nomination. In these cases, the actual tallying of votes is just a formality. This has turned the conventions into little more than three-day-long TV ads for the candidates. But a tight race among Democrats in 2020 could lead to a convention fight. That last happened in 1976, when President Gerald Ford narrowly beat Ronald Reagan to win the Republican nomination.

In a word: tradition. Since 1952, the New Hampshire primary has been the first major test for presidential hopefuls (see “A Day on the Campaign Trail”). During the 1970s, the Iowa caucuses, which take place earlier, began to gain importance, especially as a potential springboard for upstart candidates.

In a word: tradition. Since 1952, the New Hampshire primary has been the first major test for presidential hopefuls (see “A Day on the Campaign Trail”). The Iowa caucuses take place earlier. During the 1970s, they began to gain importance. Now, they’re considered a potential springboard for upstart candidates.