America’s primaries: How presidential candidates are chosen | Explainer

With less than a year to go before the next presidential election on November 5, 2024, candidates are already jostling for their party’s nomination. The Democrat and Republican primaries begin in January, with the Republican caucus in Iowa on January 15. There, voters will decide whether to support Donald Trump – by far the party’s frontrunner – or choose an alternative in Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, or a smattering of other candidates. The beginning of the primary process is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the election, and indicates which campaigns have the most momentum and support for voters. After Iowa, Republicans will vote in New Hampshire and South Carolina, followed by a series of other states and more than a dozen on “Super Tuesday”, on March 5. Mr Trump has a significant poll lead of more than 25 points over Mr DeSantis, who is in second place. Despite concerns about his age, Joe Biden remains the most likely Democratic no