2028 Democratic primary in North Carolina

North Carolina is expected to vote after the early states, often on or after Super Tuesday in early March. North Carolina is also one of the seven 2028 battlegrounds - it was decided by Trump +3.2 in 2024 - so the Democratic winner here would head into a genuine November tossup. North Carolina is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet.

North Carolina at a glance

Electoral votes16
RegionSouth
CapitalRaleigh
General-election leanTossup / Battleground
2024 resultTrump (R)
2020 resultTrump (R)
2016 resultTrump (R)
2024 marginTrump +3.2
Calendar positionAfter the early states (date not set)

See the North Carolina general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates North Carolina 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 North Carolina matters in the 2028 Democratic race

Because North Carolina is one of the few genuinely up-for-grabs states (Trump +3.2 in 2024), both parties' 2028 primaries here draw extra attention - whoever wins the Democratic nomination will likely contest North Carolina hard in November.

Recent presidential results in North Carolina: 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 South Democratic primaries

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Quick answers

North Carolina 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in North Carolina?

North Carolina 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 North Carolina usually vote in presidential elections?

North Carolina voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. It is one of the seven 2028 battlegrounds, decided by Trump +3.2 in 2024. See the full North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina (16 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.