Maryland Primary and Delegate Rules
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. Maryland primary election and presidential delegate rule information is summarized from the source links listed on this page. Confirm final rules, deadlines, and party procedures with the listed official sources.
Quick Answer
- Primary types: Democratic presidential: Closed; Democratic state: Partially Closed; Republican presidential: Closed; Republican state: Partially Closed.
- Consolidated presidential and state primaries: Yes.
- Democratic delegates: 104 total, 81 pledged, 23 unpledged, 7 alternates.
- Republican delegates: 37 total, 37 pledged, 0 unpledged, 34 alternates.
Maryland Primary Election Types
| Party | Contest | Primary type |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Presidential | Closed |
| Democratic | State | Partially Closed |
| Republican | Presidential | Closed |
| Republican | State | Partially Closed |
Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling
Consolidated Primaries: Yes
Maryland is one of the states that have merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential primaries and State primaries are scheduled to run on the same date.
In Maryland, you do not have to affiliate with a political party. If you do not select a political party on your voter registration application, you will be "unaffiliated" with any political party. This means that you will generally not be able to vote in party primary elections, but you will be able to vote in any nonpartisan primary elections held in your jurisdiction, such as a primary election to select nominees for the board of education.
Voting In Primaries
- Generally, you must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party to vote in the primary election. If there are non-partisan offices that are elected in a primary election (i.e., school board), any voter can vote for these offices.
Maryland Presidential Delegate Allocation
The presidential primary process involves selecting delegates who will represent the state at the party's national convention. Delegates selected from the primary elections attend the party's national convention, where they officially nominate the presidential candidate. The candidate with the majority of delegates becomes the party's nominee for the presidential election. Candidates Ballot access rules vary depending on the candidate’s political party.
| Party | Total delegate votes | Pledged | Unpledged | Alternates | Allocation method | Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 104 | 81 | 23 | 7 | Proportional | 15% minimum vote required |
| Republican Party | 37 | 37 | 0 | 34 | Winner-Take-All | Not specified |
Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process
Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation
Maryland Democratic Party has a total of 102 Delegate Votes and 7 Alternate Delegates. 81 of the 102 delegates are pledeged and the remaining 21 are unpledged. The party will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the Presidential Primary Election for apportioning pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Presidential Candidates Ballot Access
- A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
- The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
- Please check with the State Democratic party for further requirements.
Delegates Breakdown
- District-level Delegates: 53
- At-large Delegates: 17
- Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 11
- Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 23
- Alternate Delegates: 7
Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown
- DNC Members: 11
- Dem. Members of Congress: 9
- Dem. Governors: 1
- Distinguished Party Leaders: 2
Republican Party Primary Delegates Process
Republican Party's Delegates Allocation
The Republican party will send a total of 37 Delegate Votes and 34 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 RNC national convention. 37 Delegate Votes (24 District-level delegates, 10 At-Large, and 3 RNC delegates). All 37 of Maryland's delegates(Winner-Take-All) to the Republican National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders in Maryland Presidential Primary
Presidential Candidates Ballot Access
- A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
- The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
- Please check with the State Republican party for additional requirements.
Delegates Breakdown
- District-level Delegates: 24
- At-large Delegates: 10
- RNC Delegates: 3
- Alternate Delegates: 34
About These Rules
This page contains primary election rules and presidential primary delegate allocation information for states and U.S. territories.
Primary voting rules and delegate allocation usually apply to statewide partisan primary elections. Check with your local election office for current guidance because rules, dates, and party procedures can change.Sources and Related Election Pages
The information provided on this page was validated using the following resources: