2028 Democratic primary in Virginia

Virginia is one of the early states on the 2028 Democratic calendar, which gives its primary or caucus outsized early influence. Virginia 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. Virginia is number 6 on the 2028 Democratic calendar, voting on February 29, 2028.

Virginia at a glance

Electoral votes13
RegionSouth
CapitalRichmond
General-election leanLikely Democratic
2024 resultHarris (D)
2020 resultBiden (D)
2016 resultClinton (D)
Calendar positionFebruary 29, 2028

See the Virginia general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates Virginia 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 Virginia matters in the 2028 Democratic race

Virginia 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 Virginia: 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 early-state Democratic primaries

Michigan Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico South Carolina All Democratic primaries

Quick answers

Virginia 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in Virginia?

Virginia is number 6 on the 2028 Democratic calendar, voting on February 29, 2028. It is one of the Democratic early states for 2028.

How does Virginia usually vote in presidential elections?

Virginia voted Democratic in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Democratic in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Likely Democratic for 2028. See the full Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia (13 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.