New Jersey Primary and Delegate Rules
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. New Jersey 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: Closed; Republican presidential: Closed; Republican state: Closed.
- Consolidated presidential and state primaries: Yes.
- Democratic delegates: 127 total, 107 pledged, 20 unpledged, 9 alternates.
- Republican delegates: 12 total, 12 pledged, 0 unpledged, 9 alternates.
New Jersey Primary Election Types
| Party | Contest | Primary type |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Presidential | Closed |
| Democratic | State | Closed |
| Republican | Presidential | Closed |
| Republican | State | Closed |
Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling
Consolidated Primaries: Yes
New Jersey 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 days
New Jersey operates under the Closed Primary Rules meaning only registered voters of that particular party affiliation may vote. If a voter is unaffiliated he/she may designate which party ballot, either Democrat or Republican, they wish to vote. Upon voting, that voter will now become affiliated with that party for future Primary Elections unless a Party Affiliation Form is received 55 days prior to the next Primary Election.
New Jersey 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 | 127 | 107 | 20 | 9 | Proportional | 15% minimum vote required |
| Republican Party | 12 | 12 | 0 | 9 | Winner-Take-All |
Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process
Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation
NJ Democratic Party will send a total of 127 Delegate Votes and 9 Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention. 107 of the 128 delegates are pledeged and the remaining 20 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: 70
- At-large Delegates: 23
- Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 14
- Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 20
- Alternate Delegates: 9
Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown
- DNC Members: 9
- Dem. Members of Congress: 11
- Dem. Governors: 0
- Distinguished Party Leaders: 0
Republican Party Primary Delegates Process
Republican Party's Delegates Allocation
The Republican party will send a total of 12 Delegate Votes (12 district-level, 9 at-large, 3 RNC) and 9 Alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention. All of New Jersey's 12 delegates to the Republican National Convention are bound to a presidential contender in today's New Jersey 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: 0
- At-large Delegates: 9
- RNC Delegates: 3
- Alternate Delegates: 9
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: