Updated July 14, 2026
Democratic Early state

2028 Democratic primary in Iowa

Iowa has traditionally held one of the first contests of the nominating season, which gives its 2028 Democratic primary or caucus outsized early influence. 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. The official 2028 Democratic primary date and the calendar order are not finalized yet.

Iowa at a glance

  • Electoral votes6
  • RegionMidwest
  • CapitalDes Moines
  • General-election leanLikely Republican
  • 2024 resultTrump (R)
  • 2020 resultTrump (R)
  • 2016 resultTrump (R)
  • Calendar positionTraditionally early

See the Iowa general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates Iowa Democratic voters would choose among:

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 early-state Democratic primaries

NevadaNew HampshireSouth CarolinaAll Democratic primaries
Quick answers

Iowa 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in Iowa?
The official 2028 date has not been set. Iowa has traditionally voted early in the calendar. Check back as the calendar is confirmed.
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 June 2026 no 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.
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