What are the key dates for the 2028 presidential election?
The central date is Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Around it: the primaries and caucuses are expected to run from roughly January through June 2028, the national party conventions in the summer of 2028, the Electoral College vote in December 2028, the congressional count on January 6, 2029, and Inauguration Day on January 20, 2029.
Every date in the 2028 cycle is anchored to one fixed point: Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Federal law sets the general election for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year, and that produces November 7 for 2028. On that day voters in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. cast ballots for president and vice president.
Before Election Day comes the nomination season. Based on historical patterns - the official 2028 calendar is not finalized by either party yet - the primaries and caucuses are expected to begin in January or February 2028 and run through about June 2028, with a cluster of states voting on Super Tuesday in early March. The Democratic and Republican national conventions, where each party formally nominates its ticket, are typically held in the summer of the election year, so the summer of 2028.
After Election Day, several constitutional steps remain before a new president takes office. The Electoral College electors meet in their states in mid-December 2028 to cast the official electoral votes (federal law sets this as the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December). Congress then meets to count those votes on January 6, 2029 (the date set by law unless Congress designates another). Finally, the president-elect is inaugurated at noon on January 20, 2029, as required by the 20th Amendment.
It helps to separate the dates that are fixed by law from those that are not. Election Day (November 7, 2028), the electors' meeting (mid-December 2028), the congressional count (January 6, 2029), and Inauguration Day (January 20, 2029) are set by law. The primary calendar, convention dates, and debate schedule are not yet official and will be announced by the parties and states through 2026 and 2027.
Related questions
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Related explainers
The 2028 U.S. presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. By law, Election Day falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
November 7, 2028. Federal law fixes Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years.
The 2028 primary calendar is not finalized. Based on historical patterns, primaries and caucuses are expected to begin in January or February 2028, with most states voting by June.
The 2028 Democratic and Republican national conventions have not been scheduled yet. Based on recent cycles, expect them in July or August 2028, several months before Election Day.
The 2028 presidential inauguration is January 20, 2029. The 20th Amendment fixed this date, and the winner of the November 2028 election will be sworn in as the 48th President.
After Election Day, states certify results, electors meet in December to cast official votes, Congress counts the votes in January, and the winner is inaugurated on January 20.
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