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Minnesota's Primaries

Partisan Primary Types​

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Presidential PrimariesState PrimariesPresidential PrimariesState Primaries
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Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling​

Consolidated Primaries: No

Minnesota is one of the states that have not merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential primaries and State primaries are scheduled to run on different dates.

Minnesota is an Open-primary State. A primary election determines which candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election. There may be two kinds of offices on your primary ballot: partisan offices and nonpartisan offices. For partisan offices, You can only vote for candidates from one political party. If you vote for candidates from more than one political party, your votes will not count.

Voting In Primaries​

  • You decide when you vote which one of the parties you will vote for—Minnesota does not have political party registration. Note that voters must turn 18 years old by March 5 to vote in the presidential primary. For Presidential Primaries, Registered voters will be able to vote at their polling place on presidential primary day or by absentee ballot in the 46 days before presidential primary day (starting January 19, 2024). A voter must request the ballot of the party of their choice. If a voter refuses to select a party, they will not be able to vote in the presidential primary.

Delegates and Presidential Primaries​

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.

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.
92 75 17 6 39 39 36

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party Delegates Allocation​

Minnesota Democratic Party will send a total of 92 Delegate Votes and 6 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. 75 of the 92 delegates are pledeged and the remaining 17 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: 49
  • At-large Delegates: 16
  • Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 10
  • Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 17
  • Alternate Delegates: 6

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 10
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 6
  • Dem. Gorvernors: 1
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 0

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party Delegates Allocation​

All 39 of Minnesota's delegates to the Republican National Convention are bound to presidential contenders based on the results of the voting in today's Minnesota Presidential. A mandatory 20% threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be allocated National Convention delegates at the congressional district level.

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: 12
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 36

NOTES​

This page contains primary election rules and Presidential Primary delegates allocation information on elections occurring across the country

Primary voting rules and delegate allocation apply to statewide partisan primary elections in most cases. However, check with your Town Clerk for primary voting guide as they may vary by town and political party.Please be advised that the information provided on this site is updated regularly but is subject to scheduling changes at the local level.

The information provided on the page was validated using the following resourses: