2028 Democratic primary in Iowa

Iowa has traditionally voted early, but it is not one of the early states on the 2028 Democratic calendar. Iowa has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections (it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024), so the Democratic primary here is mainly about national delegates rather than a likely November target. Iowa is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet.

Iowa at a glance

Electoral votes6
RegionMidwest
CapitalDes Moines
General-election leanLikely Republican
2024 resultTrump (R)
2020 resultTrump (R)
2016 resultTrump (R)
Calendar positionAfter the early states (date not set)

See the Iowa general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates Iowa 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 Iowa matters in the 2028 Democratic race

Iowa leans Republican in November, so the Democratic primary here is less about a fall target and more about adding to a candidate's national delegate count on the road to the nomination.

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

Keep exploring

Other Midwest Democratic primaries

Illinois Indiana Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri All Democratic primaries

Quick answers

Iowa 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in Iowa?

Iowa 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 Iowa usually vote in presidential elections?

Iowa voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Likely Republican for 2028. See the full Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa (6 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.