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Wisconsin'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

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

The ballot at the partisan primary is divided into sections, one for each recognized political party. Each party’s section lists all of the offices that will be filled at the general election and, under each office, the individuals, if any, who have filed to be candidates for the office and have proposed, in their declarations of candidacy, to represent the party.

A voter at the partisan primary can mark votes in only one of these ballot sections, but can pick any section for this purpose, voters in Wisconsin are not asked to declare a party affiliation when registering or voting and are not obliged in any other way to pick a particular party’s section.

However, if a voter marks votes in more than one of the party sections, none of the voter’s votes will be counted.

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.
87 75 12 6 41 41 38

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation​

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: 12
  • Alternate Delegates: 6

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 8
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 3
  • Dem. Gorvernors: 1
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 0

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party's Delegates Allocation​

All 41 of Wisconsin's pledged delegates to the Republican National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders in Wisconsin 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: 14
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 38

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: