How many delegates does it take to win the presidential nomination?
A candidate must win a majority of available delegates - the exact threshold depends on the total delegates each party sets for 2028, which has not been finalized yet.
To win a party's presidential nomination, a candidate must secure a majority of the total pledged delegates. The Democratic Party has used roughly 3,900+ delegates in recent cycles, requiring about 1,968+ for a majority. The Republican Party has used roughly 2,400+ delegates, requiring about 1,215+. These numbers are set anew each cycle and are not yet confirmed for 2028.
The magic number - the majority threshold - is what campaigns target from the first primary contest. Winning every primary by a wide margin puts a candidate on pace to hit it before the convention. Splitting delegates across many candidates creates the risk of no one reaching the majority, producing a contested convention.
Candidates who withdraw from the race before the convention may release their delegates, lowering the total and potentially shifting the threshold. Rule changes by the national parties can also alter delegate totals.
For 2028 specifics, follow announcements from the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee as they finalize delegate allocation rules, which are typically published 12-18 months before the first primary.
Related: Pledged delegate definition
Related questions
What happens if no candidate has a majority at the convention?
Are all delegates awarded through primaries?
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Related explainers
A delegate is a person authorized to represent their state at the national party convention and cast a vote toward selecting the presidential nominee. Primary voters are choosing these delegates, not the nominee directly.
Superdelegates are Democratic Party leaders and elected officials who are automatic delegates to the national convention and were historically free to vote for any candidate. Rule changes now restrict them to later ballots.
A brokered convention occurs when no candidate enters the national convention with enough delegates to win on the first ballot, leading to multiple rounds of voting and intense behind-the-scenes negotiation.
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