2012 Presidential Primaries,
Caucuses, and Conventions
Chronologically

Donkey and Elephant Democratic
Convention

Thursday 1 March 2012: Automatic selection of unpledged delegates
*Tuesday 4 September - Thursday 6 September 2012: 46th Democratic National Convention
Republican
Convention

*Monday 27 August - Thursday 30 August 2012: 40th Republican National Convention
Saturday 13 August 2011 Iowa Presidential Straw Poll
Friday 9 September 2011 Maryland Presidential Straw Poll
Thursday 22 September - Saturday 24 September 2011 Florida Presidency 5 Straw Poll
Friday 21 October 2011 Nevada Straw Poll
Saturday 29 October 2011 Alabama Alabama Straw Poll
Saturday 5 November 2011 South Dakota Sioux Falls Straw Poll
Wednesday 7 December 2011 Delaware Presidential Straw Poll
Tuesday 3 January 2012*Iowa Caucus1*Iowa Caucus
Tuesday 10 January 2012*New Hampshire Primary1*New Hampshire Primary
Saturday 14 January 2012New Hampshire District Caucuses 
Saturday 21 January 2012*Nevada Non-binding Precinct Viability Caucuses1*South Carolina Primary
Saturday 28 January 2012*South Carolina Presidential Primary/Precinct Reorganization meeting1 
Sunday 29 January - Saturday 3 March 2012 *Maine Municipal Caucuses / non-binding straw poll
Tuesday 31 January 2012Florida Non-binding Primary*Florida Primary
February - April 2012 Wisconsin District Caucuses
February 2012 North Carolina Precinct Conventions (tentative date)
Saturday 4 February 2012 *Nevada Precinct Caucuses
Tuesday 7 February 2012Minnesota Precinct Caucuses
*Missouri Primary1
*Colorado Precinct Caucuses
*Minnesota Precinct Caucuses / non-binding straw poll
Missouri Non-binding Primary
Tuesday 7 February - Friday 30 March 2012 Florida District Caucuses
Thursday 9 February - Wednesday 29 February 2012 Wyoming Non-binding straw poll
Saturday 11 February 2012 Maine Municipal Caucuses / non-binding straw poll results announced
Wednesday 15 February - Tuesday 1 May 2012 Virginia Local Mass Meetings, Party Canvasses, Conventions
Friday 17 February - Saturday 31 March 2012 Minnesota BPOU Conventions
Saturday 18 February 2012Mississippi Precinct MeetingsGeorgia Precinct Mass Meetings
Tuesday 21 February 2012Washington Non-binding primary (cancelled by the state Legislature) (cancelled) 
Sunday 26 February 2012*Maine Municipal Caucuses 
Tuesday 28 February 2012Arizona Non-binding Primary (cancelled)
Michigan Non-binding Primary
*Arizona Primary
*Michigan Primary
Wednesday 29 February 2012 Wyoming Last Possible Day for Precinct Caucuses
March 2012 South Dakota County/Regional/State National Delegate Selection Meetings
North Carolina County Conventions (tentative date)
South Carolina County Conventions (tentative date)
Saturday 3 March 2012South Carolina Precinct Reorganization Meeting*Washington Precinct Caucuses / Non-binding Straw Poll
Tuesday 6 March 2012*American Samoa Territorial Caucus1
*Colorado Precinct Caucus1
*Georgia Primary1
*Massachusetts Primary1
*Ohio Primary1
*Oklahoma Primary1
*Tennessee Primary1
*Virginia Primary (only 1 candidate qualified - primary cancelled)1
*Vermont Primary1
*Georgia Primary
*Idaho County Caucuses
*Massachusetts Primary
*North Dakota Caucus
*Ohio Primary
*Oklahoma Primary
*Tennessee Primary
*Virginia Primary
*Vermont Primary
Tuesday 6 March - Saturday 10 March 2012 *Wyoming County Conventions
Tuesday 6 March - Saturday 24 March 2012 *Alaska District Conventions
Tuesday 6 March - Saturday 31 March 2012*Maine County Conventions1 
Tuesday 6 March - Sunday 8 April 2012*Minnesota Organizing Unit Conventions1 
Wednesday 7 March 2012*Hawaii Precinct Caucus1 
Saturday 10 March 2012Iowa County Conventions
Mississippi County Conventions
South Dakota State Legislative District Caucuses
Tennessee County Conventions
Georgia Precinct Mass Meetings / County Conventions
*Guam Territorial Caucus
Iowa County Conventions
*Kansas Caucuses
*Northern Marianas Commonwealth Convention
*Virgin Islands Territorial Caucus
Saturday 10 March - Saturday 31 March 2012 Nevada County Conventions (tentative date)
Tuesday 13 March 2012*Alabama Primary1
*Mississippi Primary1
*Utah Caucuses1
*Alabama Primary
*American Samoa Territorial Caucus
*Hawaii Precinct Caucuses
*Mississippi Primary
Tuesday 13 March - Thursday 19 April 2012Utah County Conventions 
Thursday 15 March 2012 Utah Precinct Caucuses
Thursday 15 March - Saturday 24 March 2012 *Missouri County Caucuses
Thursday 15 March - Tuesday 27 March 2012South Carolina County Democratic Conventions 
Saturday 17 March - Saturday 21 April 2012 Washington County Conventions / Legislative District Caucus
Sunday 18 March 2012 *Puerto Rico Primary
Tuesday 20 March 2012*Illinois Primary1*Illinois Primary
Saturday 24 March 2012*Louisiana Primary1
South Dakota Congressional District Caucuses
Tennessee District Conventions
Vermont Town Caucuses
*Louisiana Primary
Missouri County Caucuses Complete
Wednesday 28 March 2012 Colorado County Assemblies complete
Thursday 29 March 2012Missouri Mass Meeting 
Friday 30 March - Sunday 1 April 2012 North Dakota State Convention
Friday 30 March - Monday 23 April 2012 *Kansas Congressional District Conventions
Friday 30 March - Saturday 28 April 2012Colorado County Assemblies and Conventions (tentative date) 
Saturday 31 March 2012*Arizona Congressional District Caucuses1
Tennessee State Executive Committee
 
Saturday 31 March - Saturday 14 April 2012 Oklahoma District Conventions
Saturday 31 March - Sunday 22 April 2012 *Minnesota District Conventions
Saturday 31 March - Saturday 19 May 2012Mississippi Congressional District Conventions 
April 2012 New Mexico Precinct Meetings (tentative date)
South Carolina District Conventions (tentative date)
Vermont Town Caucuses (tentative date)
Tuesday 3 April 2012*District of Columbia Primary1
*Maryland Primary1
*Wisconsin Primary1
*District of Columbia Primary
*Maryland Primary
*Wisconsin Primary
Saturday 7 April - Saturday 21 April 2012 Arizona District and Country Conventions
Saturday 7 April - Saturday 28 April 2012 North Carolina District Conventions
Saturday 7 April - Saturday 19 May 2012 Kentucky District Conventions
Saturday 7 April 2012 *Tennessee State Executive Committee (tentative date)
Monday 9 April - Friday 1 June 2012Minnesota Congressional District Conventions 
Tuesday 10 April - Saturday 14 April 2012*Alaska Precinct / House District Caucuses1 
Thursday 12 April 2012Ohio Post Primary Caucus 
Thursday 12 April - Friday 13 April 2012 *Colorado District Conventions
Thursday 12 April - Saturday 14 April 2012 *Wyoming Convention
Saturday 14 April 2012Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee Meeting
*Idaho County Caucus1
*Kansas Local Unit Conventions1
*Nebraska Precinct Caucuses1
Nevada County Conventions
Oklahoma State Convention
*Wyoming County Caucuses1
*Colorado State Convention
Georgia District Conventions
Sunday 15 April 2012*Washington Precinct Caucuses1
Wisconsin County Caucuses
 
Friday 20 April - Saturday 21 April 2012Utah State Convention 
Saturday 21 April 2012Arizona State Convention
Georgia Congressional District Caucuses
Massachusetts Congressional District Caucuses
*Texas County/Senatorial District Conventions1
Iowa District Statutory Caucus
Missouri Congressional District Conventions
Utah State Convention
Monday 23 April - Friday 11 May 2012 Arkansas Special Meeting of the County Conventions
Tuesday 24 April 2012*Connecticut Primary (only 1 candidate - no primary will be held)1
Delaware Primary (only 1 candidate filed - no primary) (cancelled)
*New York Primary1
*Pennsylvania Primary1
*Rhode Island Primary1
*Connecticut Primary
*Delaware Primary
*New York Primary
*Pennsylvania Primary
*Rhode Island Primary
Washington County Conventions (last day)
Thursday 26 April 2012Missouri Congressional District Conventions 
Thursday 26 April - Saturday 28 April 2012 *Alaska State Convention
Friday 27 April - Saturday 28 April 2012 Florida Executive Board Meeting
Maryland Spring Convention
Saturday 28 April 2012California Pre-primary Caucus
*Iowa District Conventions
New Hampshire Caucus / National Convention Delegation Meeting
Ohio State Executive Committee
Washington Legislative District Caucuses
Delaware State Convention
*Kansas State Party Committee Meeting
Louisiana District Caucuses
Massachusetts Deadline for Congressional District Conventions
Mississippi Precinct Caucuses / County Presidential Conventions
Saturday 28 April - Saturday 19 May 2012 Virginia District Conventions
Sunday 29 April 2012Washington County Conventions 
Tuesday 1 May - Sunday 6 May 2012*Democrats Abroad Global Primary1 
Tuesday 1 May - Wednesday 30 May 2012*Delaware Representative District Caucuses / Party-run Primary1 
Thursday 3 May 2012*District of Columbia State Party CommitteeMichigan County Conventions
Saturday 5 May 2012*Florida County Caucuses1
*Guam Territorial Caucus (Party run primary)1
Kansas District Conventions
Louisiana Post Primary Congressional Caucus
Massachusetts State Committee and National Convention Delegate Meeting
*Michigan Precinct Caucuses1
Missouri State Committee
 
Saturday 5 May - Sunday 6 May 2012 *Maine District Caucuses and State Convention
*Nevada State Convention
Sunday 6 May 2012Wisconsin Congressional District Caucuses 
Monday 7 May 2012Illinois National Convention delegation meeting 
Tuesday 8 May 2012*Indiana Primary1
*North Carolina Primary1
*West Virginia Primary1
*Indiana Primary
*North Carolina Primary
*West Virginia Primary
Friday 11 May - Saturday 12 May 2012 Oklahoma State Convention
Friday 11 May - Sunday 13 May 2012*Alaska State Party Convention 
Saturday 12 May 2012Connecticut State Convention
Georgia State Committee Meeting
*Maryland State Democratic Central Committee Meeting
South Carolina State Convention
Arizona District Caucus and State Convention
Saturday 12 May - Saturday 19 May 2012Virginia Congressional District ConventionsNew Mexico County Conventions
Tuesday 15 May 2012Idaho Non-binding Primary (cancelled)
Nebraska Advisory Primary
*Oregon Primary1
Idaho Non-binding Primary (cancelled)
Nebraska Non-binding Primary
*Oregon Primary
Friday 18 May 2012 Connecticut State Committee Meeting
Friday 18 May - Saturday 19 May 2012 Georgia State Convention
Michigan Congressional District Caucuses / State Convention
*Minnesota State Convention
Mississippi State Convention
Saturday 19 May 2012Georgia State Committee Meeting
North Carolina Congressional District Conventions
South Carolina State Convention
Vermont State Convention
Saturday 19 May - Sunday 20 May 2012*Democrats Abroad Global Convention 
Saturday 19 May - Friday 1 June 2012*Colorado District Conventions 
Sunday 20 May 2012*Washington Congressional District Caucuses 
Tuesday 22 May 2012*Arkansas Primary1
*Kentucky Primary1
*Arkansas Primary
*Kentucky Primary
Thursday 24 May 2012New York State Committee 
Friday 25 May - Sunday 27 May 2012Hawaii State Convention 
Saturday 26 May 2012Vermont State Convention
*Wyoming State Convention
 
Tuesday 29 May 2012Texas Advisory Primary1*Texas Primary
Wednesday 30 May 2012Connecticut Congressional District Caucuses 
Wednesday 30 May - Thursday 31 May 2012 *New York State Committee
Wednesday 30 May - Saturday 2 June 2012 *Washington State Convention
Friday 1 June - Sunday 3 June 2012*Washington State ConventionNorth Carolina State Convention
Friday 1 June - Sunday 10 June 2012Nebraska County ConventionsNebraska County Conventions
Saturday 2 June 2012*Colorado State Convention
Kentucky State Convention
Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee in Baton Rouge
Michigan District Conventions
Mississippi State Convention
Oregon Congressional District Conventions
Virginia State Convention
Louisiana State Convention
*Missouri State Convention
Saturday 2 June - Sunday 3 June 2012Florida State Convention
*Maine State Convention.
Minnesota State Convention
*Virgin Islands Territorial Convention1
 
Sunday 3 June 2012*Puerto Rico Senate District Caucuses1 
Tuesday 5 June 2012*California Primary1
*Montana Primary1
*North Dakota Legislative District Caucus1
*New Jersey Primary1
*New Mexico Primary1
*South Dakota Primary1
*California Primary
Montana Non-binding Primary
*New Jersey Primary
*New Mexico Primary
*South Dakota Primary
Wednesday 6 June 2012Connecticut District Level Delegation Meeting 
Thursday 7 June 2012Montana County Caucuses 
Thursday 7 June - Saturday 9 June 2012 Texas State Convention
Friday 8 June 2012Wisconsin Administrative Committee Meeting and State Convention 
Friday 8 June - Saturday 9 June 2012*Texas State Convention
West Virginia State Convention & Executive Committee
*Illinois Convention
*Indiana State Convention
Saturday 9 June 2012Delaware State Convention
*Kansas State Convention
Missouri State Convention
Montana State Convention
New Mexico State Party Central Committee and District Conventions
Pennsylvania State Committee
Vermont National Convention Delegate Meeting
Arkansas Special District Convention
Kentucky State Convention
*New Mexico State Republican Convention
Saturday 9 June - Sunday 10 June 2012*Nevada State Convention 
Sunday 10 June 2012Puerto Rico Democratic Assembly*Pennsylvania Summer Meeting (tentative date)
Tuesday 12 June 2012 Massachusetts Deadline for State Committee Meeting (tentative date)
Thursday 14 June - Saturday 16 June 2012*Idaho State Convention*Montana State Convention
Saturday 16 June 2012*Arkansas Special State Convention
*Iowa State Convention
Indiana State Convention
North Carolina State Convention
*North Dakota State Delegate Selection Meeting
New Jersey State Committee
New Mexico State Party Central Committee
Oregon State Convention
South Dakota State Convention / State Party Central Committee
*Iowa State Convention
Virginia State Convention
Thursday 21 June 2012Rhode Island State ConventionSouth Dakota State Central Committee Meeting
Thursday 21 June - Saturday 23 June 2012 Idaho State Convention
Saturday 23 June 2012Michigan State Central Committee
*Nebraska State Convention
Arkansas State Committee Meeting
Oregon District Conventions
Sunday 24 June 2012*California Delegation Meeting 
Tuesday 26 June 2012 *Utah Primary
Saturday 14 July 2012 *Nebraska State Convention
August 2012Unassigned To be determined (tentative date) 
 

* Major event or National Convention delegates allocated.
1 Democratic Party's "First Determining Step" of the delegate selection process.

Notes: Thursday 1 March 2012: Democratic unpledged delegates are automatically selected.

 


  Election 2012 - Presidential Primary, Caucus, and Convention Home  
 
  Presidential Candidates  
 
Rule Making and Process
  30 December 2009 - Democratic Change Commission's Recommendations for the 2012 Presidential Nominating Process  
  20 August 2010 - Democratic National Committee approves 2012 Call To Convention and Delegate Selection Rules  
  6 August 2010 - Republican Temporary Delegate Selection Committee's Recommendations for the 2012 Presidential Nominating Process  
 
  States Alphabetically  
  Events Chronologically  
  Major Events Chronologically  
  Democratic "First Determining Step" Chronologically  
 
  Chronological Cumulative Allocation of Delegates  
  Weekly Delegate Distribution and Availability  
  Democratic Pledged and Unpledged Summary   --   Republican Pledged and Unpledged Summary  
  Democratic Hard and Floor Summary   --   Republican Hard and Floor Summary  
 
Delegate Allocation
  Democratic Quick Reference   --   Republican Quick Reference  
  Democratic Detailed Delegate Allocation   --   Republican Detailed Delegate Allocation  
 
  Democratic Delegate Selection and Voter Eligibility   --   Republican Delegate Selection and Voter Eligibility  
 
  Primaries at a Glance  
 
Documentation
  Historical Analysis of the Presidential Nominating Process  
  Historical Analysis of the apportionment of delegate votes at the National Conventions of the two major parties  
  Primary/Caucus/Convention Glossary  
  Statutory Election Information of the Several states / Presidential Primary  
  Dates of PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES re: selection and/or allocation/distribution of Delegates to Major Party National Conventions  
 
  Major Third Party (Constitution, Green, Libertarian) Presidential Nomination Process  
 
  Straw Polls