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Pennsylvania's Primaries

Partisan Primary Types​

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

Consolidated Primaries: yes

Pennsylvania 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

In a primary election, each political party selects its candidates to run for office during the general election. The candidates who get the highest number of votes in the primary election go on to run in the general election. Voters also vote for their party’s officers during a primary election.

In Pennsylvania, you can only vote for the candidates in the same political party you have named in your voter registration. For example, if you registered to vote as a member of the Republican Party then you can vote in the Republican primary, but not the Democratic primary.

All voters can vote on: constitutional amendments, ballot questions, and any special election contests held at the same time as a primary election.

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.
173 146 27 12 67 67 64

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation​

The Democratic party will send a total of 173 Delegate Votes (146 Pledged, 27 unpledged) and 12 Alternate delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

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: 95
  • At-large Delegates: 32
  • Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 19
  • Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 27
  • Alternate Delegates: 12

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 13
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 12
  • Dem. Gorvernors: 1
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 1

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party's Delegates Allocation​

The Republican party will send a total of 67 Delegate Votes (51 district-level, 13 at-large, 3 RNC) and 64 Alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention.

51 of the Commonwealth's 67 delegates to the Republican National Convention will be directly elected (their names appear on the ballot) in a LOOPHOLE type primary, in which delegates are elected separately from a presidential preference. 16 (10 base at-large delegates plus 3 bonus delegates plus 3 RNC delegates) of the Commonwealth's 67 delegates to the Republican National Convention delegates are bound for the 1st ballot to the candidate who receives the most votes in the Pennsylvania 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: 51
  • At-large Delegates: 13
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 64

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: