2028 Democratic primary in California

California is expected to vote after the early states, often on or after Super Tuesday in early March. California has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections (it voted Democratic in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Democratic in 2024), so this primary effectively picks the favorite to carry the state in November 2028. California is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet.

California at a glance

Electoral votes54
RegionWest
CapitalSacramento
General-election leanSafe Democratic
2024 resultHarris (D)
2020 resultBiden (D)
2016 resultClinton (D)
Calendar positionAfter the early states (date not set)

See the California general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates California Democratic voters would choose among:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Gavin Newsom Josh Shapiro Kamala Harris Pete Buttigieg Amy Klobuchar Andy Beshear Bernie Sanders Chris Murphy

Full field and process on the 2028 Democratic primary hub.

Why California matters in the 2028 Democratic race

California is reliable Democratic turf in general elections, so its Democratic primary is closely watched as a read on where the party's voters stand, even though the state itself is not a top November battleground.

Recent presidential results in California: it voted Democratic in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Democratic in 2024. Compare the 2028 nomination odds and the latest 2028 primary polls.

Keep exploring

Other West Democratic primaries

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Quick answers

California 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in California?

California is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet. It is expected to vote after the early states, often around Super Tuesday or later.

How does California usually vote in presidential elections?

California voted Democratic in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Democratic in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Safe Democratic for 2028. See the full California general-election outlook for detail.

Who is running in the 2028 Democratic primary?

As of October 2026 no major candidate has formally declared. The most-discussed Democratic contenders include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris.

How many delegates does California have?

Exact 2028 delegate counts are set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) closer to the election. As a rough guide, states with more delegates than California (54 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.