USA Election 2020

Not every state holds both a primary and a caucus. States choose one or the other to determine their delegates for the national nominating conventions.

Party nominees are officially selected by delegates at the national nominating conventions. These delegates are pledged based on the results of state primaries and caucuses.

Delegates are the individuals selected at the state level to represent the voters at the national party conventions. They are the ones who cast the votes to officially nominate the party's candidate.

Iowa traditionally holds the first caucus, and New Hampshire traditionally holds the first primary election of the presidential nominating season.

Primary elections are internal party contests. Candidates from the same political party compete against each other to win the party's nomination for the general election.

The vast majority of states utilize primary elections to select delegates rather than the more time-intensive caucus system.

Primaries are state-run elections funded by taxpayers, while caucuses are private meetings organized and managed by the political parties themselves.

While the United States has a two-party system that dominates politics, there are many other minor or third parties that exist and occasionally run candidates.

Primary elections are the stage where the public votes to determine which candidate will represent their party in the final general election.