--- title: 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar Released for Primaries description: The official road map for the GOP candidates is released canonical: https://time.com/4059030/republican-primary-calendar-2016-nomination-convention/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-02T12:06:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-14T01:12:25.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar Released for Primaries og:description: The official road map for the GOP candidates is released og:url: https://time.com/4059030/republican-primary-calendar-2016-nomination-convention/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f1cb36cba8817f7/69886406e20a878e88a8d47a/150917_em_gopdebate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2100 og:image:height: 1181 og:image:alt: 150917_EM_GOPDebate og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar Released for Primaries twitter:description: The official road map for the GOP candidates is released twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f1cb36cba8817f7/69886406e20a878e88a8d47a/150917_em_gopdebate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # EXCLUSIVE: TIME Guide to Official 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: 5 Surprising Things About Carly Fiorina [Watch (HLS stream): 5 Surprising Things About Carly Fiorina](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/iRMLNlOn.m3u8) (1:37)  _Published 2015-09-18. 5 Surprising Things about Carly Fiorina_ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Updated: Dec 14, 2023 1:12 AM UTCPublished: Oct 2, 2015 12:06 PM UTC  Republican presidential hopefuls (L-R), Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee , Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, real estate magnate Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and former CEO Carly Fiorina, listen as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson (C) speaks during the Presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sept. 16, 2015. Republican presidential hopefuls (L-R), Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee , Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, real estate magnate Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and former CEO Carly Fiorina, listen as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson (C) speaks during the Presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sept. 16, 2015. Frederic J. Brown—AFP/Getty Images by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Updated: Dec 14, 2023 1:12 AM UTCPublished: Oct 2, 2015 12:06 PM UTC The 2016 Republican presidential race may turn into the most grueling campaign in two generations thanks to a series of rules and calendar changes instituted by the party in recent years. The combination of a front-loaded calendar and the expansion of states splitting their delegates among candidates, means a nominee won’t be likely be known until the spring at the earliest, according to the Republican National Committee—and perhaps months later. If three or more candidates pick up a substantial share of the early delegates in the first month of voting, the race could go all the way to early June, if not the convention. **See also:** [**Up-to-date delegate counts each Republican candidate**](http://time.com/4228456/republican-primary-delegate-counter/)**.** GOP state parties had until Oct. 1 to submit their delegate selection plans. The Republican Party gave TIME an exclusive look at what they entailed, providing the sharpest picture yet of what the next nine months of campaigning will look like. Here’s your guide to the 2016 Republican Nomination: **Delegates to the convention:** 2,470\* **Delegates needed to win the nomination (50%+1):** 1,236\* **How many delegates does each state get?** In addition to its three national party representatives, each state is awarded 10 delegates, plus three for each congressional district. Additional ‘bonus’ delegates are awarded for the share of the Republican vote in the previous presidential election and for electing Republican governors, Senators, Representatives, and legislatures. Territories are awarded a set number of delegates according to the party rules. **Who determines how each state awards its delegates?** Each state party sets its own rules in consultation with the Republican National Committee. **What’s different from 2012?** First off, the sheer number of candidates (15!). Second, the RNC moved to condense the calendar, keeping the Iowa caucuses from encroaching on New Years and moving the convention into July, and the last primaries to early June. The thinking was this would prevent the drawn-out primary fight that weakened Mitt Romney last cycle. Additionally, more states moved their primaries and caucuses into early March in an effort to play a more significant role in the nominating process, and thereby receive more attention from candidates. But all states voting before March 15 must award their delegates proportionally (though each state interprets that to their own liking), a measure instituted by the RNC to keep the race competitive into March. **What does that mean?** The 2016 primary calendar is technically shorter, but more importantly, it will be _way_ more intense than the 2012 race. **So, when will there be a nominee?** That depends. Senior RNC officials will only say they predict the race being decided sometime in the spring, but many Republican operatives believe that a nominee won’t be determined until May or perhaps later. The concern is that with so many delegates up for grabs on a proportional basis—more than in any other cycle—that it will take longer for any one candidate to get the requisite number. **You mean a contested convention?** That’s still very unlikely, but for all the reasons above is more likely to happen this year than at any point in recent memory. **But that sounds like fun.** It sure is exciting to game out. If no candidate secures the required number of delegates by the first ballot in Cleveland (through a combination of bound and unbound delegates), all bets are off, as most states release their pledged delegates at that point. **What is a bound (unbound) delegate?** A bound delegate is a person whose vote will be counted for the candidate they are pledged to regardless of what they actually do at the convention. Unbound delegates may be pledged by personal statements or even state law, but according to RNC rules, may cast their vote for anyone at the convention. Many members of the RNC are unbound by their state rules. **How are delegates bound?** The RNC has instituted a new rule requiring states that have ‘presidential preference votes’ like primaries and caucuses to bind their delegates in accordance with the outcome of the voting. Because, democracy. **What about Rule 40?** This obscure rule passed to prevent Paul from being nominated on the convention floor in 2012, requires that candidates win a majority of eight delegations to be entered into nomination and have their delegates counted. It is almost certain to be amended in the week leading up to the GOP convention, depending on circumstances. (For instance, the minimum could move higher, in the case of a clear nominee, or lower, if there’s a contested convention.) **Can you give me a detailed breakdown of the official calendar, including how each state will award its delegates?** Yes. Read on. . . **The Four Early States:** _These are the four “carve out” states that the Republican National Committee has permitted to vote in February. Delegates will be split among the candidates._ * **Iowa Caucuses** (30 delegates): February 1, 2016 — Delegates awarded proportionally, rounded to the nearest whole number. * **New Hampshire Primary** (23 delegates, 20 bound): February 9, 2016 — Delegates awarded proportionally statewide to candidates earning at least 10% of the vote. * **South Carolina Primary** (50 delegates): February 20, 2016 — Delegates awarded as “winner take all” statewide and by congressional district. * **Nevada Caucuses** (30 delegates): February 23, 2016 — Delegates awarded proportionally **SuperDuper Tuesday: March 1, 2016** (Delegates/Bound delegates) 565 bound delegates _Also known as the ‘SEC Primary,’ more delegates are bound on this day than any other in the primary race, all by some form of proportional allocation.\*\* Many of the states are deeply conservative, and are being eyed by candidates appealing to such voters as an opportunity to build momentum. But there will be plenty of opportunities for more moderate candidates to come away with delegates, and maybe some victories too._ * Alabama Primary (50 total delegates/47 bound) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Alaska Caucuses (28/25) — Proportional with 13% threshold * Arkansas Primary (40/37) ­— Proportional with 15% threshold * Georgia Primary (76) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Massachusetts Primary (42/39) — Proportional with 5% threshold * Minnesota Caucuses (38/35) — Proportional with 10% threshold * North Dakota Caucuses (28/0) — The state does not have a presidential preference poll and all delegates are officially unbound. Caucuses can be flexibly scheduled * Oklahoma Primary (43/40) — Proportional with 15% threshold * Tennessee Primary (58/55) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Texas Primary (155/152) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Vermont Primary (16/13) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Virginia Primary (49/46) — Proportional * Wyoming Caucuses (29/0) — The state does not have a presidential preference poll and all delegates are officially unbound **March 5, 2016** (145 bound delegates) * Kansas Caucuses (40) — Proportional with 10% threshold * Kentucky Caucuses (45/42) — Proportional with 5% threshold * Louisiana Primary (46/43) — Proportional with 20% threshold statewide, no threshold for congressional district delegates * Maine Caucuses (23/20) — Proportional with 10% threshold **March 6, 2016** (23 bound delegates) * Puerto Rico Primary (23) — Proportional with 20% threshold **March 8, 2016** (140 bound delegates) * Hawaii Caucuses (19/16) — Proportional * Idaho Primary (32) — Proportional with 20% threshold * Michigan Primary (59/56) — Proportional with 15% threshold * Mississippi Primary (39/36) — Proportional with 15% threshold **March 12, 2016** (19 bound delegates) * District of Columbia Convention (19) — Proportional with 15% threshold * Guam Convention (9/0) — Delegates elected at convention and unbound **Super Tuesday: March 15, 2016** (361 bound delegates) _This is the first day that states may begin to award delegates on a winner-take-all basis and where favorite sons are looking to score big. It’s also the date at which a majority (56%) of delegates will have been already bound—an important milestone that was reached nearly a month later in 2012._ * Florida Primary (99) — Winner take all * Illinois Primary (69) — Statewide delegates are winner take all, congressional district delegates elected directly on ballot and bound as they declare * Missouri Primary (52/49) – Winner take all above 50%, otherwise winter take all by congressional district * North Carolina Primary (72/69) – Proportional * Northern Mariana Islands Caucuses (9) – Winner take all * Ohio Primary (66) –Winner take all **March 19, 2016** (9 bound delegates) * U.S. Virgin Islands (9) — Winner take all **March 22, 2016** (107 bound delegates) * American Samoa Convention (9) — Delegates elected and bound at convention * Arizona Primary (58) — Winner take all * Utah Caucuses (40) — Proportional with 15% threshold **Spring Break** _After a month of intense voting, the calendar slows with just 134 delegates bound over the course of a month. This could sap candidates’ momentum, either elongating a close race for the nomination or forcing underperforming and underfunded candidates from the race before the home stretch._ April 5, 2016 (42 bound) * Wisconsin Primary (42) — Winner take all statewide and by congressional district April 9, 2016 (0 bound) * Colorado Convention (37/0) — Delegates elected at district and state conventions, and bound as they declare April 19, 2016 (92 bound) * New York Primary (95/92) — Proportional with 20% threshold **Northeast Primary: April 26, 2016** (109 bound) _More moderate Republicans have an opportunity to be heard at a critical juncture._ * Connecticut Primary (28/25) — Winner take all above 50%, otherwise proportional with 20% threshold statewide and winner take all by congressional district * Delaware Primary (16) — Winner take all * Maryland Primary (38) — Winner take all Pennsylvania Primary (71/14) — Winner take all statewide, remaining delegates elected on ballot and unbound * Rhode Island Primary (19/16) — Proportional with 10% threshold May 3, 2016 (54 bound) * Indiana Primary (57/54) — Winner take all statewide and by congressional district May 10, 2016 (67 bound) * Nebraska Primary (36) — Winner take all * West Virginia Primary (34/31) — Delegates elected directly on ballot and bound by preference May 17, 2016 (25 bound) * Oregon Primary (28/25) — Proportional May 27, 2016 (41 bound) * Washington Primary (44/41) — Proportional with 20% threshold **Last Call: June 7, 2016** (294 bound) _The final primary day, with a large crop of delegates up for grabs._ * California Primary (172/169) — Winner take all statewide and by congressional district * Montana Primary (27) — Winner take all * New Jersey Primary (51) — Winner take all * New Mexico Primary (24/21) — Proportional with 15% threshold * South Dakota Primary (29/26) — Winner take all **THE CONVENTION: July 18, 2016 — Cleveland, Ohio** _If no candidate has the required number of delegates on the first ballot, balloting will continue until a nominee emerges with a majority of delegates. Most delegates are freed from their bindings after the first ballot or if released by the candidate. Others are held for longer._ \*Figure may increase slightly depending on outcome of Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi gubernatorial races and legislative races in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia. \*\*Some proportional allocations have been simplified for clarity. ## Transcript I started as a secretary. I'm used to being underestimated. I can win this. And when I win this nomination, I can take the fight to Hilary Clinton. And that is exactly what we have to do. So, you think I'm getting under your skin now? You wait until we're on a general election. [ MUSIC ] [ SOUND ] [ MUSIC ] Spencer Michaels has our report on the ouster of Carly Fiorina. [ MUSIC ] I will go to the U. S. Senate and I will fight. For the millions of Californians. [ MUSIC ] [ APPLAUSE ] Ladies, look at this face. [ APPLAUSE ] [ MUSIC ] This is gonna be a fight. This is an important election, and we're gonna have a fight about really important principles, and really important policies. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4059030/republican-primary-calendar-2016-nomination-convention/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4059030/republican-primary-calendar-2016-nomination-convention/"},"headline":"EXCLUSIVE: TIME Guide to Official 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar","datePublished":"2015-10-02T12:06:10.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-14T01:12:25.000Z","description":"The official road map for the GOP candidates is released","url":"https://time.com/4059030/republican-primary-calendar-2016-nomination-convention/","keywords":["Republican","2016 Election","Republican National Committee","Iowa","new hampshire","primary","republican convention"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f1cb36cba8817f7/69886406e20a878e88a8d47a/150917_em_gopdebate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Zeke Miller","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4f1cb36cba8817f7/69886406e20a878e88a8d47a/150917_em_gopdebate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"150917_EM_GOPDebate","caption":"150917_EM_GOPDebate","creditText":"Frederic J. 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