Voters in each state choose electors by casting a vote for the presidential candidate of their choice. The slate winning the most popular votes is the winner. Only two states, Nebraska and Maine, do not follow this winner-take-all method.

The nominating process officially begins with the first state primaries and caucuses, which usually begin in January of the election year. It is at these local events that voters are given their first chance to participate in electing the Nation’s next President.

A candidate for president of the United States who has been selected by the delegates of a political party at the party’s national convention (also called a presidential nominating convention) to be that party’s official candidate for the presidency.

Electoral College Certificates and Votes by State

The California primary is a semi-closed primary, with the state awarding 494 delegates towards the 2020 Democratic National Convention, of which 415 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary.

As a result, states variously applied the statewide winner-take-all method (e.g., New York), district- and state-level winner-take-all (e.g., California), or proportional allocation (e.g., Massachusetts).

To become the Republican Party nominee, the candidate must win a simple majority of 1,276 of the 2,472 total delegates at the Republican National Convention.

Candidate salary The candidate may receive a salary from his or her campaign committee only under the following conditions: The salary must be paid by the principal campaign committee; Incumbent federal officeholders may not receive a salary payment from campaign funds; and.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the governing body of the United States Democratic Party. The committee coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout the country for local, state, and national office, as well as works to establish a “party brand”.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States Senate. It is the only organization solely dedicated to electing Democrats to the United States Senate.

In addition to the physical aspects of the convention being downsized, the duration was also significantly downsized. The convention’s program was downsized from one that was originally expected to total 24 hours over the four days, to one that would total only eight hours.