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Coordinated communications periods: congressional primaries (2020)

When a person pays for a communication that is coordinated with a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, or their agents, or a political party committee or its agents, the communication is considered an in-kind contribution to that candidate or party committee and is subject to the limits, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the federal campaign finance law. FEC regulations establish a three-prong test to determine whether a communication is coordinated. All three prongs of the test—payment, content and conduct—must be met for a communication to be deemed coordinated and thus an in-kind contribution.

One provision identifies certain pre-election time frames during which a public communication that references a candidate will satisfy the content prong of the coordination test.

The following chart provides a breakdown of the 90-day coordinated communications (CC) periods for the 2020 congressional primaries.

NOTE: For communications that refer to both a party and a clearly identified federal candidate please consult the regulations at 11 CFR 109.21(c)(4)(i)-(iv).

Related pages:


Coordinated communications periods for congressional primaries1

State & type of election Election date CC period (90-days priorthrough election date)
Alabama Primary~* 03/03/2020 12/04/2019 - 03/03/2020
Alabama Runoff~* 07/14/2020~2 04/15/2020 - 07/14/2020
Alaska Primary~* 08/18/2020 05/20/2020 - 08/18/2020
American Samoa General 11/03/2020 08/05/2020 - 11/03/2020
Arizona Primary ~* 08/04/2020 05/06/2020 - 08/04/2020
Arkansas Primary~* 03/03/2020 12/04/2019 - 03/03/2020
Arkansas Runoff(NOT HELD)~* 03/31/2020 01/01/2020 - 03/31/2020
California Primary 03/03/2020 12/04/2019 - 03/03/2020
Colorado Primary~* 06/30/2020 04/01/2020 - 06/30/2020
Connecticut Primary 08/11/2020~3 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
Connecticut Convention - Democratic Party 05/11/2020~3 02/11/2020 - 05/11/2020
Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 1] 05/07/2020~3 02/07/2020 - 05/07/2020
Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 2] 05/11/2020~3 02/11/2020 - 05/11/2020
Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 3] 05/12/2020~3 02/12/2020 - 05/12/2020
Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 4] 05/13/2020~3 02/13/2020 - 05/13/2020
Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 5] 05/14/2020~3 02/14/2020 - 05/14/2020
Delaware Primary* 09/15/2020 06/17/2020 - 09/15/2020
District of Columbia Primary 06/02/2020 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Florida Primary 08/18/2020 05/20/2020 - 08/18/2020
Georgia Primary~* 06/09/2020~4 03/11/2020 - 06/09/2020
Georgia Runoff~* 08/11/2020~5 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
Georgia General Runoff~* 01/05/2021 10/07/2020 - 01/05/2021
Guam Primary canceled~6 n/a
Guam General Runoff 11/17/2020 08/19/2020 - 11/17/2020
Hawaii Primary 08/08/2020 05/10/2020 - 08/08/2020
Idaho Primary~* 06/02/2020~7 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Illinois Primary~* 03/17/2020 12/18/2019 - 03/17/2020
Indiana Primary 06/02/2020~3~8 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Indiana Convention - Libertarian Party 03/07/20203 12/08/2019 - 03/07/2020
Iowa Primary~* 06/02/2020 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Kansas Primary~* 08/04/2020~3 05/06/2020 - 08/04/2020
Kansas Convention - Libertarian Party~* 04/18/2020~3 01/19/2020 - 04/18/2020
Kentucky Primary~* 06/23/2020~9 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
Louisiana Primary~* 07/24/2020~10~11 04/25/2020 - 07/24/2020
Louisiana General~* 11/03/2020~10 08/05/2020 - 11/03/2020
Louisiana General Runoff~* 12/05/20201~0 09/06/2020 - 12/05/2020
Maine Primary~* 07/14/2020~12 04/15/2020 - 07/14/2020
Maryland Primary 06/02/2020~3~13 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Massachusetts Primary~* 09/01/2020 06/03/2020 - 09/01/2020
Michigan Primary~* 08/04/2020~3 05/06/2020 - 08/04/2020
Michigan Convention - Green Party~* 06/20/2020~3 03/22/2020 - 06/20/2020
Michigan Convention - Libertarian Party~* 07/18/2020~3 04/19/2020 - 07/18/2020
Michigan Convention - US Taxpayers Party~* 07/25/2020~3 04/26/2020 - 07/25/2020
Minnesota Primary~* 08/11/2020 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
Mississippi Primary~* 03/10/2020 12/11/2019 - 03/10/2020
Mississippi Runoff~* 06/23/2020~14 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
Missouri Primary 08/04/2020 05/06/2020 - 08/04/2020
Montana Primary~* 06/02/2020 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Nebraska Primary~* 05/12/2020 02/12/2020 - 05/12/2020
Nevada Primary 06/09/2020 03/11/2020 - 06/09/2020
New Hampshire Primary~* 09/08/2020 06/10/2020 - 09/08/2020
New Jersey Primary~* 07/07/2020~15 04/08/2020 - 07/07/2020
New Mexico Primary~* 06/02/2020 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
New York Primary 06/23/2020 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
North Carolina Primary~* 03/03/2020 12/04/2019 - 03/03/2020
North Carolina Runoff~* 06/23/2020~16 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
North Dakota Primary 06/09/2020 03/11/2020 - 06/09/2020
Northern Mariana Islands 11/03/2020 08/05/2020 - 11/03/2020
Ohio Primary 04/28/2020~17 01/29/2020 - 04/28/2020
Oklahoma Primary~* 06/30/2020 04/01/2020 - 06/30/2020
Oklahoma Runoff~* 08/25/2020 05/27/2020 - 08/25/2020
Oregon Primary~* 05/19/2020~3 02/19/2020 - 05/19/2020
Oregon Convention - Libertarian Party~* 07/06/2020~3 04/07/2020 - 07/06/2020
Oregon Convention - Pacific Green Party~* 06/06/2020~3 03/08/2020 - 06/06/2020
Pennsylvania Primary 06/02/2020~18 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
Puerto Rico Primary 08/09/2020~19 05/11/2020 - 08/09/2020
Rhode Island Primary~* 09/08/2020 06/10/2020 - 09/08/2020
South Carolina Primary~* 06/09/2020~3 03/11/2020 - 06/09/2020
South Carolina Runoff(NOT HELD)~* 06/23/2020 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
South Carolina Convention - Alliance Party~* 04/18/2020~3 01/19/2020 - 04/18/2020
South Carolina Convention - Constitution Party~* 04/18/2020~3 01/19/2020 - 04/18/2020
South Carolina Convention - Libertarian Party~* 06/13/2020~3 03/15/2020 - 06/13/2020
South Dakota Primary~* 06/02/2020 03/04/2020 - 06/02/2020
South Dakota Runoff~* 08/11/2020 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
South Dakota Convention - Libertarian Party~* 05/09/2020 02/09/2020 - 05/09/2020
Tennessee Primary~* 08/06/2020 05/08/2020 - 08/06/2020
Texas Primary~* 03/03/2020~3 12/04/2019 - 03/03/2020
Texas Runoff~* 07/14/2020~20 04/15/2020 - 07/14/2020
Texas Convention - Green Party Senate~* 04/18/2020~3 01/19/2020 - 04/18/2020
Texas Convention - Libertarian Party Senate~* 08/01/2020~3~21 05/03/2020 - 08/01/2020
Texas Convention - Minor Party Single-County [Dist. #s 2-3, 7, 16, 18, 20, 29, 30] 03/14/2020~3 12/15/2019 - 03/14/2020
Texas Convention - Minor Party Multi-County [Dist. #s 1, 4-6, 8-15, 17, 19, 21-28, 31-36] 03/21/2020~3 12/22/2019 - 03/21/2020
Texas Convention -Republican Party [Dist. #4] 08/08/2020~3 05/10/2020 - 08/08/2020
Utah Primary 06/30/2020~3 04/01/2020 - 06/30/2020
Utah Convention - Constitution Party 04/15/2020~3 01/16/2020 - 04/15/2020
Utah Convention - Democratic Party 04/25/2020~3 01/26/2020 - 04/25/2020
Utah Convention - Libertarian Party 04/25/2020~3 01/26/2020 - 04/25/2020
Utah Convention - Republican Party 04/25/2020~3 01/26/2020 - 04/25/2020
Utah Convention - United Utah Party 04/18/2020~3 01/19/2020 - 04/18/2020
Vermont Primary 08/11/2020 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
Virgin Islands Primary 08/01/2020 05/03/2020 - 08/01/2020
Virgin Islands General Runoff(NOT HELD) 11/17/2020 08/19/2020 - 11/17/2020
Virginia Primary~* 06/23/2020~3~22 03/25/2020 - 06/23/2020
Virginia Convention -Democratic Party [Dist. # 9]~* 05/02/2020~3 02/02/2020 - 05/02/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 4]~* 06/27/2020~3~23 03/29/2020 - 06/27/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 5]~* 06/13/2020~3~24 03/15/2020 - 06/13/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 7]~* 07/18/2020~3~25 04/19/2020 - 07/18/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 8]~* 05/30/2020~3 03/01/2020 - 05/30/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 10]~* 06/20/2020~3~26 03/22/2020 - 06/20/2020
Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 11]~* 06/20/2020~3~27 03/22/2020 - 06/20/2020
Washington Primary 08/04/2020 05/06/2020 - 08/04/2020
West Virginia Primary~* 06/09/2020~3~28 03/11/2020 - 06/09/2020
West Virginia Convention - Libertarian Party~* 04/04/2020~3 01/05/2020 - 04/04/2020
West Virginia Convention - Mountain Party~* 06/06/2020~3 03/08/2020 - 06/06/2020
Wisconsin Primary 08/11/2020 05/13/2020 - 08/11/2020
Wyoming Primary~* 08/18/2020 05/20/2020 - 08/18/2020

Footnotes

  • 1.  

    Election dates are subject to change. This chart will be updated as additional information becomes available.

  • 2.  

    On 03/18/2020, the Alabama Governor changed the congressional primary runoff election from 03/31/2020 to 07/14/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 3.  

    In Connecticut and Utah, conventions are held by the political parties prior to the primary. In Virginia, parties may choose to nominate by convention rather than by primary election. (In other states, such as Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, it is possible that minor parties may schedule conventions to nominate candidates.)

  • 4.  

    On 04/09/2020, the Georgia Secretary of State changed the congressional primary election from 05/19/2020 to 06/09/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 5.  

    On 04/09/2020, the Georgia Secretary of State changed the congressional primary runoff election from 07/21/2020 to 08/11/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 6.  

    On 08/28/2020, the Guam Governor canceled the 08/29/2020 congressional primary election. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 7.  

    On 04/01/2020, the Idaho Governor effectively changed the date of the 05/19/2020 congressional primary election by setting 06/02/2020 as deadline for absentee ballots. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 8.  

    On 03/20/2020, the Indiana Governor changed the congressional primary election from 05/05/2020 to 06/02/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 9.  

    On 03/16/2020, the Kentucky Governor changed the congressional primary election from 05/19/2020 to 06/23/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 10.  

    In AO 2000-29, the Commission determined that the last day to qualify for a position on the general election ballot in Louisiana -- in this case 07/24/2020 -- must be considered the primary election date for Louisiana candidates. The election for candidates seeking federal office is the general election scheduled for 11/03/2020. Additionally, under state law if no candidate in the 11/03/2020 general election receives over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on 12/05/2020.

  • 11.  

    On 06/04/2020, the Louisiana Governor changed the congressional primary election from 07/17/2020 to 07/24/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 12.  

    On 04/10/2020, the Maine Governor changed the congressional primary election from 06/09/2020 to 07/14/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 13.  

    On 03/17/2020, the Maryland Governor changed the congressional primary election from 04/28/2020 to 06/02/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 14.  

    On 03/20/2020, the Mississippi Governor changed the congressional primary runoff election from 03/31/2020 to 06/23/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 15.  

    On 04/08/2020, the New Jersey Governor changed the congressional primary election from 06/02/2020 to 07/07/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 16.  

    On 03/20/2020, the North Carolina Governor changed the congressional primary runoff election from 05/12/2020 to 06/23/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 17.  

    On 03/27/2020, the Ohio Governor changed the congressional primary election from 03/17/2020 to 04/28/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 18.  

    On 03/27/2020, the Pennsylvania Governor changed the congressional primary election from 04/28/2020 to 06/02/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 19.  

    On 06/06/2020, the Puerto Rico Governor changed the congressional primary election from 06/07/2020 to 08/09/2020. The change was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 20.  

    On 03/20/2020, the Texas Governor changed the congressional primary runoff election from 05/26/2020 to 07/14/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 21.  

    On 04/20/2020, the Libertarian Party of Texas announced their state nominating convention will be held on 08/01/2020 (the 04/18/2020 convention was postponed). The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 22.  

    On 04/13/2020, the Virginia Governor changed the congressional primary election from 06/09/2020 to 06/23/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 23.  

    On 05/13/2020, the Republican Party of Virginia changed the congressional convention in District 4 from 04/25/2020 to 06/27/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 24.  

    On 05/11/2020, the Republican Party of Virginia changed the congressional convention in District 5 from 04/25/2020 to 06/13/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 25.  

    On 05/14/2020, the Republican Party of Virginia changed the congressional convention in District 7 from 04/25/2020 to 07/18/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 26.  

    On 05/13/2020, the Republican Party of Virginia changed the congressional convention in District 10 from 05/30/2020 to 06/20/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 27.  

    On 05/27/2020, the Republican Party of Virginia changed the congressional convention in District 11 from 05/30/2020 to 06/20/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • 28.  

    On 04/01/2020, the West Virginia Governor changed the congressional primary election from 05/12/2020 to 06/09/2020. The change was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • *  

    States holding 2020 Senate elections.