Missouri Primary and Delegate Rules
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. Missouri 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: Open; Republican presidential: Closed; Republican state: Open.
- Consolidated presidential and state primaries: No.
- Democratic delegates: 71 total, 64 pledged, 7 unpledged, 5 alternates.
- Republican delegates: 54 total, 54 pledged, 0 unpledged, 51 alternates.
Missouri Primary Election Types
| Party | Contest | Primary type |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Presidential | Closed |
| Democratic | State | Open |
| Republican | Presidential | Closed |
| Republican | State | Open |
Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling
Consolidated Primaries: No
Missouri is one of the states that have not merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential primary/caucus and State primaries are scheduled to run on different dates.
Missouri has an open primary system for State-run Primaries. Voters may choose which primary to vote in privately. The choice does not register the voter with the party. However, the passage of Missouri House Bill 1878 eliminated the state-run presidential preference primary. In order to have a say in selecting the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in 2024, Missourians will be required to pledge loyalty to the party they align themselves with. The Missouri Republican Party is holding a statewide caucus to select a presidential candidate, while the Missouri Democratic Party will run its own presidential preference primary election.
Voting In Primaries
- In State primaries, Voters may choose which primary to vote in privately. The choice does not register the voter with the party. However, in Presidential primaries/caucus, voters are only entitled to cast a ballot in the primary of the political party with which they are affiliated, according to their voter registration.
Missouri 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 | 71 | 64 | 7 | 5 | Proportional | 15% minimum vote required |
| Republican Party | 54 | 54 | 0 | 51 | Winner-Take-Most | 15% threshold |
Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process
Democratic Party Delegates Allocation
Missouri's Democratic party will send a total of 71 Delegate Votes and 5 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. 64 of the 71 delegates are pledeged and the remaining 7 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: 42
- At-large Delegates: 14
- Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 8
- Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 7
- Alternate Delegates: 5
Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown
- DNC Members: 5
- Dem. Members of Congress: 1
- Dem. Governors: 0
- Distinguished Party Leaders: 1
Republican Party Primary Delegates Process
Republican Party Delegates Allocation
Missouri's Republican party will send a total of 54 Delegate Votes and 51 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention. All 54 (24 district-level, 27 at-large statewide, 3 RNC) delegates to the Republican National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders in the Missouri State 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 Republican party for additional requirements.
Delegates Breakdown
- District-level Delegates: 24
- At-large Delegates: 27
- RNC Delegates: 3
- Alternate Delegates: 51
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: