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Alternative means of partisan candidate nomination

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Generally, political parties use primary elections to determine their nominees in advance of a general election. In some cases, however, political parties can nominate candidates for the general election directly, without conducting a primary election. This article identifies states in which major political parties[1] can nominate general election candidates for statewide office via party meeting (e.g., caucuses or conventions) instead of primaries.[2][3]

For the purposes of this article, statewide offices include: governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor, U.S. senators, U.S. representatives, and state legislators. This article does not include alternative means of partisan nomination for judicial or presidential candidates, which may vary.

States can be grouped into three categories:

  • Alternative means of nomination (e.g., caucuses or conventions) allowed for any statewide office,
  • Primaries required for all statewide offices (excluding lieutenant governor),[4]
  • Primaries required for some statewide offices.


As of May 2025:
  • In three states — Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia — major political parties may nominate candidates for any statewide office by a method other than primary election.[5]
  • In three states — Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota — major political parties may nominate candidates for some offices by a method other than primary election.
  • In 44 states, state law requires primaries for all statewide offices.

    • States that provide for nominations via party meeting instead of primary

    The map and table below identify how major political parties may nominate their general election candidates for statewide office as of May 2025.[5]

    Partisan candidate nomination methods by state
    State Means of nomination Statute or source
    Alabama[6] Alternative means of nomination allowed for any statewide office - A political party's state executive committee may elect to nominate its candidates for the general election via the state's primary election laws; however, primary elections are not required. Ala. Code § 17-13-42
    Alaska[7] Primaries required for all statewide offices Alaska Stat. § 15.25.010
    Arizona[8] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-302
    Arkansas[9] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ark. Code. Ann. § 7-7-102
    California[10] Primaries required for all statewide offices Cal. Const. art. II, § 5
    Colorado[11] Primaries required for all statewide offices Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-4-101
    Connecticut[12][13][14] Primaries required for all statewide offices[15] Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-382 & 9-400
    Delaware[16] Primaries required for all statewide offices Del. Code Ann. tit. 15 § 3101A
    Florida[17] Primaries required for all statewide offices Fla. Stat. § 100.061
    Georgia[18] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ga. Code § 21-2-130
    Hawaii[19] Primaries required for all statewide offices Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-1
    Idaho[20] Primaries required for all statewide offices Idaho Code § 34-703
    Illinois[21] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ill. Comp. Stat. ch. 10, § 7-1
    Indiana[22][23][24] Primaries required for some statewide offices - Candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, and attorney general are nominated at party conventions. Ind. Code §§ 3-8-4-2 & 3-10-1-4
    Iowa[25] Primaries required for all statewide offices[26] Iowa Code § 43.3
    Kansas[27] Primaries required for all statewide offices Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-202
    Kentucky[28] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ky. Rev. Stat. § 118.105
    Louisiana[29] Primaries required for all statewide offices[30] La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:401
    Maine[31] Primaries required for all statewide offices Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A § 331
    Maryland[32] Primaries required for all statewide offices Md. Election Law Code Ann. § 8-202
    Massachusetts[33][34] Primaries required for all statewide offices Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 2
    Michigan[35][36] Primaries required for some statewide offices - Candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general are nominated at party conventions. Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.72
    Minnesota[37] Primaries required for all statewide offices Minn. Stat. § 204D.03
    Mississippi[38] Primaries required for all statewide offices Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-291
    Missouri[39] Primaries required for all statewide offices Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.339
    Montana[40] Primaries required for all statewide offices Mont. Code Ann. § 13-10-601
    Nebraska[41] Primaries required for all statewide offices[42] Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-401
    Nevada[43] Primaries required for all statewide offices Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293-175
    New Hampshire[44] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 655:14-a
    New Jersey[45] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:13-1
    New Mexico[46] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-8-1
    New York[47] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.Y. Election Law § 6-110
    North Carolina[48] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-1
    North Dakota[49] Primaries required for all statewide offices N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-11-01
    Ohio[50] Primaries required for all statewide offices Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.01
    Oklahoma[51] Primaries required for all statewide offices Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 1-102
    Oregon[52] Primaries required for all statewide offices Or. Rev. Stat. § 248.007
    Pennsylvania[53] Primaries required for all statewide offices Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 902
    Rhode Island[54] Primaries required for all statewide offices R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-7
    South Carolina[55] Alternative means of nomination allowed for any statewide office - A political party may nominate their candidates via convention only if "there is a three-fourths vote of the total membership of the convention to use the convention nomination process" and "a majority of voters in that party's next primary election approve the use of the convention nomination process."[55] S.C. Code Ann. § 7-11-30
    South Dakota[56] Primaries required for some statewide offices - Candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, and attorney general are nominated at party conventions. S.D. Codified Laws § 12-5-21
    Tennessee[57] Primaries required for all statewide offices Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-13-202
    Texas[58] Primaries required for all statewide offices Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.001
    Utah[59][60][61][62] Primaries required for all statewide offices[63] Utah Code Ann. § 20A-9-403 et seq.
    Vermont[64] Primaries required for all statewide offices Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2351
    Virginia[65] Alternative means of nomination allowed for any statewide office - According to state law, party authorities "have the right to determine the method by which a party nomination ... shall be made." However, effective January 2024, the law also states that a method of nomination "shall not be selected if such method will have the practical effect of excluding participation in the nominating process by qualified voters who are otherwise eligible to participate" but cannot attend meetings due to being active duty military, temporarily living outside of the U.S., being a student, having a disability, or experiencing a contagious disease.[65] According to Virginia Mercury's Markus Schmidt, "The law effectively forces parties to nominate candidates through state-run primary elections rather than their own party-run contests."[66] Va. Code § 24.2-509
    Washington[67] Primaries required for all statewide offices Wash. Rev. Code §29A.52.112
    West Virginia[68] Primaries required for all statewide offices W. Va. Code § 3-5-4
    Wisconsin[69] Primaries required for all statewide offices Wis. Stat. § 8.16
    Wyoming[70] Primaries required for all statewide offices Wyo. Stat. § 22-5-105

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    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The term "major political parties" typically refers to the Democratic and Republican parties. Unless otherwise specified, this term as used in this article refers to those parties.
    2. ↑ In many states, minor political parties are subject to fewer requirements and are allowed to nominate their candidates via party meeting.
    3. ↑ This article does not address nominations due to withdrawal, disqualification, or death occurring before a general election.
    4. ↑ In some states, lieutenant governors are chosen by the gubernatorial nominee and are therefore not nominated by a party.
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 According to Virginia law, party authorities "have the right to determine the method by which a party nomination ... shall be made." However, effective January 2024, the law also stated that a method of nomination "shall not be selected if such method will have the practical effect of excluding participation in the nominating process by qualified voters who are otherwise eligible to participate" but cannot attend meetings due to being active duty military, temporarily living outside of the U.S., being a student, having a disability, or experiencing a contagious disease. According to Virginia Mercury's Markus Schmidt, "The law effectively forces parties to nominate candidates through state-run primary elections rather than their own party-run contests."
    6. ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 17-13-42," accessed March 19, 2025
    7. ↑ Alaska Statutes, "Section 15.25.010," accessed March 19, 2025
    8. ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "Section 16-302," accessed March 19, 2025
    9. ↑ Arkansas Code Annotated, "Section 7-7-102," accessed March 19, 2025
    10. ↑ California Constitution, "Article II, Section 5," accessed March 19, 2025
    11. ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-4-101," accessed March 19, 2025
    12. ↑ Connecticut General Statutes, "Section 9-382," accessed May 22, 2025
    13. ↑ Connecticut General Statutes, "Section 9-400," accessed May 22, 2025
    14. ↑ Connecticut General Statutes, "Section 9-415," accessed March 19, 2025
    15. ↑ According the Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-382, a candidate can become the party-endorsed candidate and qualify for the primary by receiving an endorsement at a party's convention. If this endorsement is not earned, according to Section 9-400, the candidate can still qualify for the primary either by having received at least 15% of convention delegate votes during any roll-call vote taken on the proposed endorsement of the candidate or by obtaining the signatures of at least 2% of enrolled party members in the state. Section 9-415 states that primaries are to be held if a candidate other than the party-endorsed candidate qualifies.
    16. ↑ Delaware Code, "Section 3101A," accessed March 19, 2025
    17. ↑ 2024 Florida Statutes, "Section 100.061," accessed March 19, 2025
    18. ↑ Official Code of Georgia Annotated, "Section 21-2-130," accessed March 19, 2025
    19. ↑ Hawaii Revised Statutes, "Section 12-1," accessed March 19, 2025
    20. ↑ Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-703," accessed March 19, 2025
    21. ↑ Illinois Compiled Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 7-1," accessed March 19, 2025
    22. ↑ Indiana Code, "Section 3-8-4-2," accessed March 19, 2025
    23. ↑ 2024 Indiana Code, "Section 3-10-1-2," accessed March 19, 2025
    24. ↑ 2024 Indiana Code, "Section 3-10-1-4," accessed March 19, 2025
    25. ↑ Iowa Code, "Section 43.3," accessed March 19, 2025
    26. ↑ According to Sections 43.65 and 43.78 of Iowa Code, if more than two candidates run in the primary and no candidate receives over 35% of the vote, the nominee must be chosen by convention or committee.
    27. ↑ 2024 Kansas Statute, "Section 25-202," accessed March 19, 2025
    28. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, '"Section 118.105," accessed March 19, 2025
    29. ↑ Louisiana Revised Statutes, "Section 18:401," accessed March 19, 2025
    30. ↑ Louisiana has a majority-vote system. All candidates, regardless of partisan affiliation, appear on the same primary ballot. If a candidate wins a simple majority, she or he wins the election outright. If no candidate meets that threshold, the top two finishers, regardless of partisan affiliation, advance to a second election.
    31. ↑ Maine Revised Statutes," Section 21A-331," accessed March 19, 2025
    32. ↑ Maryland Election Law Code Annotated, "Section 8-202," accessed March 19, 2025
    33. ↑ Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 53, Section 2," accessed May 21, 2025
    34. ↑ Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 53, Section 88," accessed May 21, 2025
    35. ↑ Michigan Compiled Laws, "Section 168.72," accessed March 19, 2025
    36. ↑ Michigan Compiled Laws, "Section 168.534," accessed March 19, 2025
    37. ↑ 2024 Minnesota Statutes, "Section 204D.03," accessed March 19, 2025
    38. ↑ Mississippi Code, "Section 23-15-291," accessed March 19, 2025
    39. ↑ Missouri Revisor of Statutes, "Section 115.339," accessed March 19, 2025
    40. ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2023, "Section 13-10-601," accessed March 19, 2025
    41. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, "Section 32-401," accessed March 19, 2025
    42. ↑ Nebraska has a nonpartisan state legislature. All candidates appear on one primary ballot, and the top two finishers advance to the general election.
    43. ↑ Nevada Revised Statutes, "Section 293-175," accessed March 19, 2025
    44. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Section 655:14-a," accessed March 19, 2025
    45. ↑ New Jersey Revised Statutes, "Section 19:13-1," accessed March 19, 2025
    46. ↑ 2024 New Mexico Statutes, "Section 1-8-1," accessed March 19, 2025
    47. ↑ Consolidated Laws of New York, "Section 6-110," accessed March 19, 2025
    48. ↑ North Carolina General Statutes, "Section 163-1," accessed March 19, 2025
    49. ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Section 16.1-11-01," accessed March 20, 2025
    50. ↑ Ohio Revised Code, "Section 3513.01,"accessed March 20, 2025
    51. ↑ 2024 Oklahoma Statutes, "Section 26-1-102," accessed March 20, 2025
    52. ↑ Oregon Revised Statutes, "Section 248.007", accessed March 20, 2025
    53. ↑ Pennsylvania Election Code, "Article IX, Section 902," accessed March 20, 2025
    54. ↑ General Laws of Rhode Island, "Section 17-15-7," accessed March 20, 2025
    55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 South Carolina Code of Laws, "Section 7-11-30," accessed March 20, 2025
    56. ↑ South Dakota Codified Laws, "Section 12-5-21," accessed March 20, 2025
    57. ↑ 2024 Tennessee Code, "Section 2-13-202," accessed March 20, 2025
    58. ↑ Texas Statutes, "Section 172.001," accessed March 20, 2025
    59. ↑ Utah Code, "20A-9-403," accessed March 21, 2025
    60. ↑ Utah Code, "20A-9-407," accessed March 21, 2025
    61. ↑ Utah Code, "20A-9-408," accessed March 21, 2025
    62. ↑ Utah Code, "20A-9-409," accessed March 20, 2025
    63. ↑ According to Section 20A-9-409 of Utah Code, candidates can qualify for the primary either by gathering sufficient signatures or by earning a nomination at a party convention. A primary is only required if multiple candidates qualify via petition and no candidates qualify via convention, or if one or more candidates qualify via convention and one or more candidates qualify via petition.
    64. ↑ Vermont Statutes Annotated, "Section 17-2351," accessed March 20, 2025
    65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-509," accessed March 20, 2025
    66. ↑ Virginia Mercury, "Republicans fight to restore party-run primaries, challenge new state law," accessed May 22, 2025
    67. ↑ Revised Code of Washington, "Section 29A.52.112," accessed March 20, 2025
    68. ↑ West Virginia Code, "Section 3-5-4," accessed March 20, 2025
    69. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "Section 8.16," accessed March 20, 2025
    70. ↑ 2024 Wyoming Election Code, "Section 22-5-105," accessed March 20, 2025

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