Pledged delegates are awarded based on each state’s primary or caucus results, using formulas set by the national parties. Democrats require every state to split delegates proportionally among candidates who reach 15% of the vote. Republicans let each state party choose, so some states split delegates proportionally, some give them all to the winner, and many use a hybrid. The candidate who wins a majority of delegates at the national convention becomes the nominee.
That’s why a candidate can win the most votes in a state and still leave with only a modest delegate lead, or lose a state and still collect delegates. With the 2028 calendar taking shape, here’s how the math works.
How do Democrats allocate pledged delegates? #
The Democratic National Committee requires proportional allocation everywhere, with a threshold.
The 15% threshold #
A candidate must win at least 15% of the vote to get any delegates. It’s applied separately at two levels:
- District level: In each congressional district, candidates above 15% split that district’s delegates.
- Statewide: Candidates above 15% statewide split the at-large delegates and the pledged party leader and elected official delegates (called PLEOs).
Votes for candidates under the threshold are set aside, and the remaining candidates split the delegates in proportion to their share of the viable vote.
A worked example #
Say a district has 10 delegates and the results are:
| Candidate | Vote share | Viable? | Share of viable vote | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 50% | Yes | 50 ÷ 80 = 62.5% | 6 |
| B | 30% | Yes | 30 ÷ 80 = 37.5% | 4 |
| C | 12% | No | n/a | 0 |
| D | 8% | No | n/a | 0 |
Candidates A and B split all 10 delegates based on the 80% of the vote that went to viable candidates. Rounding produces 6.25 and 3.75, which becomes 6 and 4. The DNC’s rules include specific rounding procedures for close cases.
The threshold makes a real difference in a crowded field. A candidate polling at 14% nationally might win delegates in states where they’re strong and none in states where they’re weak, which is why campaigns in a big field spend so much effort getting over 15% in specific districts.
Automatic delegates (“superdelegates”) #
Democrats also have automatic delegates: members of Congress, governors, DNC members and certain party leaders. Since 2018 reforms, they can’t vote on the first ballot at the convention unless a candidate has already won a majority with pledged delegates alone. See what superdelegates are and how they work.
How do Republicans allocate pledged delegates? #
The Republican National Committee sets a few national rules and leaves the rest to state parties. The most important national rule concerns timing: contests held before March 15 must allocate delegates proportionally, though a state can award all its delegates to a candidate who wins a majority of the vote. After that date, states can use winner-take-all. That rule exists to keep the earliest states from ending the race before most voters weigh in.
Within those limits, states use three broad approaches:
| Method | How it works | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Proportional | Delegates split by vote share, often with a threshold of up to 20% | Keeps several candidates in the running |
| Winner-take-all | The statewide winner gets every delegate | Rewards a clear frontrunner quickly |
| Hybrid (winner-take-most) | Each congressional district’s delegates go to the district winner; at-large delegates go to the statewide winner, sometimes proportionally | Candidates can win delegates by carrying specific districts |
Many hybrid states also switch to winner-take-all if a candidate tops 50% statewide or in a district. That’s how a Republican frontrunner can build an insurmountable lead in a few weeks of spring primaries.
Each state’s Republican delegation also includes three RNC members: the state party chair and its national committeeman and committeewoman. They’re generally bound by the state’s results as well.
What’s the difference between district and at-large delegates? #
Both parties split each state’s delegates into categories:
- District delegates are awarded based on results in each congressional district.
- At-large delegates are awarded based on the statewide result.
- PLEO delegates (Democrats only) are party leaders and elected officials awarded based on the statewide result.
District delegates are why candidates campaign in rural areas and small cities, not just big media markets. A candidate who loses a state badly can still pick up delegates by winning a few districts.
Are pledged delegates required to vote for their candidate? #
On the first ballot, mostly yes, but the parties word it differently. Republican delegates are generally bound by state party rules to vote on the first ballot for the candidate they were allocated to, and a few states keep them bound longer. Democratic rules say pledged delegates should “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments” of the voters who elected them, which in practice means voting for their candidate.
Campaigns also help choose the actual people. Candidates submit slates of supporters, and the individuals are selected at later caucuses, conventions or by state parties, which is why delegates are almost always loyal. If no one wins a majority on the first ballot, many delegates are released, which is what makes a contested convention possible.
What do we know about the 2028 calendar? #
The Democratic calendar for 2028 has early states set. In July 2026 the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted for South Carolina to go first, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia, and the full DNC approved the dates on August 15, 2026. Under that plan, South Carolina votes on January 22, 2028, and Super Tuesday falls on March 7. New Hampshire’s state law requires it to hold the nation’s first primary, and Iowa Democrats have threatened to go early, so expect more friction before 2028.
Republicans voted in January 2026 to keep the same early calendar as past cycles, with Iowa’s caucuses first. The number of delegates needed to win each nomination depends on each party’s final allocation formulas, which are published closer to the primaries. For the full timeline, see when the 2028 presidential primaries begin.
How do primary polls relate to delegates? #
Most early 2028 polling is national, and national polls don’t translate directly into delegates. A candidate at 20% nationally could clear 15% in most Democratic contests or fall short in many of them, depending on where their support is concentrated. Once the early states get closer, state polls matter far more.
Election Tracker has a 2028 Primary tab with Republican and Democratic fields shown separately, each with its own polling average and trend line, and every poll lists its pollster, sample size and dates. It shows polls, not delegate counts, so use it to see who’s gaining support and who’s near the 15% line nationally. It’s free on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions #
How many delegates does a candidate need to win? #
A majority of all delegates at the national convention. The exact number depends on each party’s allocation formula for that cycle and is announced before the primaries begin.
What happens to a candidate’s delegates when they drop out? #
It depends on the party and the state. Democratic delegates won by a candidate who drops out may be reallocated or become free to support someone else, depending on the delegate type. Republican state rules vary: some release the delegates, while others keep them bound on the first ballot.
Why does the 15% threshold matter so much? #
Because missing it means getting zero delegates from that state or district, no matter how close you were. In a crowded Democratic field, the threshold concentrates delegates among the top few candidates.
What’s the difference between pledged delegates and superdelegates? #
Pledged delegates are won through primaries and caucuses and are expected to support the candidate they were awarded to. Superdelegates, officially automatic delegates, are party leaders and elected officials who aren’t tied to any candidate, and Democratic rules keep them from voting on the first ballot unless the outcome is already settled.
Does every state hold a primary? #
No. A few states still use caucuses or party conventions, and the rules differ between the parties even in the same state. See our comparison of primaries and caucuses for the difference.