The next presidential election feels far away, but the clock is already ticking. Primary dates are set, the convention is on the books, and the road to Inauguration Day has a clear shape. Here is every key date for the 2028 election in one place, with a plain note about what is still unsettled.
Quick answer: The general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. The DNC’s approved Democratic early window opens January 22, 2028 in South Carolina, Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028, the convention runs August 7-10, 2028, electors meet December 18, 2028, and Inauguration Day is January 20, 2029. As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared a run.
The big picture: the 2028 election key dates at a glance
Everything below is based on dates we have verified as of October 5, 2026. Where a date is not final, we say so. We will keep this page current as things get announced.
Here is the master timeline, from the 2026 midterms through the swearing-in.
| Date | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | 2026 midterm elections (all 435 House seats, about a third of the Senate, 36 governors) | Set |
| Later in 2026 | DNC expected to pick the 2028 convention host city (Boston, Denver or Philadelphia) | Pending |
| January 22, 2028 | South Carolina Democratic primary | Set by DNC |
| February 1, 2028 | Nevada Democratic primary | Set by DNC |
| February 8, 2028 | New Hampshire Democratic primary | Set by DNC; watch for changes |
| February 15, 2028 | New Mexico Democratic primary | Set by DNC |
| February 22, 2028 | Michigan Democratic primary | Set by DNC |
| February 29, 2028 | Virginia Democratic primary | Set by DNC |
| March 7, 2028 | Super Tuesday | Set |
| August 7-10, 2028 | Democratic National Convention | Dates set; city pending |
| Tuesday, November 7, 2028 | General election | Set |
| December 18, 2028 | Electors meet | Set |
| January 20, 2029 | Inauguration Day | Set |
For a deeper look at the date itself, see our explainer on when the 2028 presidential election is. Our full 2028 presidential election hub collects everything in one spot.
First stop: the 2026 midterms
The road to 2028 runs straight through Tuesday, November 3, 2026. All 435 House seats are on the ballot, along with about a third of the Senate and 36 governors’ races. What happens that day shapes the political ground Democrats stand on for the next two years, potentially setting up a blue wave or a different outcome.
This is the nearest date on the whole calendar, and it is the one where your vote matters most right now. Dig into the stakes with our guide to the 2026 midterm elections, check when the 2026 midterms are and what is on the ballot, and read up on the 2026 Senate races to watch. Curious about the payoff? We also break down what happens if Democrats win the House.
The road to the 2028 White House starts with showing up on November 3, 2026.
The Democratic primary calendar: January 22 to Super Tuesday
On August 15, 2026, at its summer meeting in Austin, Texas, the DNC approved the early-window calendar for 2028. The order is below, and it is a big shake-up from what many voters are used to.
The early window, state by state
- South Carolina: January 22, 2028
- Nevada: February 1, 2028
- New Hampshire: February 8, 2028
- New Mexico: February 15, 2028
- Michigan: February 22, 2028
- Virginia: February 29, 2028
Super Tuesday follows on March 7, 2028. Iowa is not in the Democratic early window, so do not expect the caucuses to kick things off the way they once did. The source for this calendar is the DNC itself (democrats.org, “DNC Votes to Officially Select Early States for 2028”).
The New Hampshire wrinkle
New Hampshire state law requires it to hold the first primary in the nation. That clashed with the DNC calendar in 2024, so watch for changes. We will update this page if the schedule shifts.
What about Republicans?
Republicans are expected to keep Iowa first on their 2028 calendar, according to RNC reports in September 2026. The GOP calendar is not final, so treat that as a expectation, not a done deal.
Want the full state-by-state picture? Our 2028 Democratic primary calendar is the place to track every date as it firms up. New to the process? A guide on how presidential primaries and caucuses work is on the way.
The candidate field: who has declared (nobody yet)
Here is the honest status. As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 presidential run. No major Republican has either. Anyone you hear called a “candidate” is, for now, a potential candidate.
Names widely reported as potential Democratic contenders include Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, JB Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock, Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Chris Van Hollen and Ro Khanna. On the Republican side, widely reported potential names include JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz and Brian Kemp.
No announcement dates exist yet, and we will not guess at them. Follow the field on our 2028 Democratic candidates tracker, which we update as news breaks.
Until someone files and announces, every name on the list is a possibility, not a campaign.
Convention summer: August 7-10, 2028
The 2028 Democratic National Convention is set for August 7-10, 2028. The host city is not final. On August 20, 2026, the finalists were announced: Boston, Denver and Philadelphia. Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated, and the final pick is expected later in 2026.
This is where the party formally nominates its presidential candidate and lays out its message to the country. We are tracking the host city race and will cover it in our 2028 Democratic National Convention guide. We will also explain what superdelegates are and how the rules work.
Debate dates have not been announced yet. When they are, we will add them here, and we plan a guide on how to watch presidential debates.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 7, 2028
The general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Mark it now. It is the day the whole calendar builds toward.
To win the presidency, a candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes. The 2028 election uses the electoral map from the 2020 census apportionment. If the mechanics feel fuzzy, we are preparing explainers on how the Electoral College works, the 2028 electoral map and the 2028 swing states.
Many states offer early voting or mail voting, but the rules vary a lot. Always check vote.gov or your state election office for how, when and where you can vote.
After Election Day: electors, then Inauguration
Voting does not end the story on November 7. Electors meet on December 18, 2028, which is the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Then comes Inauguration Day on January 20, 2029.
We are also planning a look at what happens on Inauguration Day 2029. The ceremony is the finish line of a long, high-stakes calendar.
Who can actually run?
The Constitution requires a president to be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a US resident for 14 years. The 22nd Amendment limits a president to two elected terms. Our upcoming explainers cover the constitutional requirements to run for president and the question many readers ask: can Trump run for a third term.
Your personal calendar: register and get ready
Every date above only matters if you are ready to vote. The good news is that registering is quick, and you can do it today.
Every state’s official rules, deadlines and online registration links live on vote.gov. Use a link like https://vote.gov/register/ohio or https://vote.gov/register/new-york and swap in your state. Deadlines differ by state, so confirm yours on vote.gov or with your state election office. Same-day registration exists in many states, but the rules are not the same everywhere. North Dakota is the one state with no voter registration.
Our full guide on how to register to vote in every state walks you through it step by step.
Take action: Pull up vote.gov right now and check that your registration is current, especially if you moved or changed your name. Then text one friend the link and ask them to do the same. It takes five minutes, and it is the easiest way to get ready for November 3, 2026 and beyond.
Our take: why this calendar is good news
This section is our opinion. A wide-open race is an opportunity. With no major Democrat declared yet, there is room for new voices, new ideas and a lot of volunteers to shape the conversation.
We think the new early window, with states like Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia in the mix, gives the party a chance to hear from a broader set of voters earlier. That is a healthy thing for a party that wants to win everywhere. What you do now, from registering to knocking doors, builds the foundation.
The calendar is the framework. People power fills it in. Volunteer for a 2026 campaign near you, and you are already working on 2028. For more on the stakes, our 2028 Election category has everything in one place, and we are preparing a guide on where Democrats stand on the big issues.
Key takeaways
- The general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028, and Inauguration Day is January 20, 2029.
- The DNC’s early window runs from South Carolina on January 22, 2028 through Virginia on February 29, and Super Tuesday is March 7, 2028.
- The convention is August 7-10, 2028, with Boston, Denver and Philadelphia as finalist cities; the pick is still pending.
- As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat or Republican has formally declared a 2028 run.
- The nearest date is the midterms on November 3, 2026, so check your registration on vote.gov now.
Last updated October 2026. Dates and candidate news change fast; we update this page as things are announced.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of the 2028 presidential election?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. That is the day voters across the country cast ballots, though many states also offer early voting or mail voting before then. Check vote.gov or your state election office for the options in your state.
When do the 2028 Democratic primaries start?
The DNC’s approved early window opens with South Carolina on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on February 1, New Hampshire on February 8, New Mexico on February 15, Michigan on February 22 and Virginia on February 29. Super Tuesday follows on March 7, 2028. Dates for the remaining states are not covered here, so see our primary calendar page for updates.
Has anyone officially announced a 2028 run?
As of October 5, 2026, no major Democrat has formally declared a 2028 presidential run, and no major Republican has either. Many names are widely reported as potential candidates, but that is speculation until someone files and announces. We track the field on our candidates page.
When is the 2028 Democratic National Convention?
The convention is set for August 7-10, 2028. The finalist host cities are Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, and the final pick is expected later in 2026. Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated.
How do I register to vote for 2028?
Every state’s official rules, deadlines and online registration links are on vote.gov. Because deadlines differ by state, confirm yours on vote.gov or with your state election office rather than relying on a general rule. North Dakota is the one state with no voter registration.
