Electioneering communications periods: congressional primaries (2020)
Electioneering communications (EC) are television and radio communications that refer to a clearly identified federal candidate and are distributed to the relevant electorate within 60 days prior to a general election (including a special general or special general runoff) or 30 days prior to a primary, nominating convention or caucus (including a special primary). Individuals and other persons who make electioneering communications that aggregate in excess of $10,000 in the calendar year must file disclosure statements with the Commission within 24 hours of distribution to the public.
A chronological listing of electioneering communications dates can be found on the FEC Calendar.
The following chart provides a state-by-state breakdown of the electioneering communications periods for congressional primaries. During these EC periods, 24-hour disclosure of electioneering communications is required. (Use Form 9.)
Related pages:
Electioneering communications periods for congressional primaries1
| State & type of election | Election date | EC 24-Hour Notice period |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Primary~* | 03/03/2020 | 02/02/2020 - 03/03/2020 |
| Alabama Runoff~* | 07/14/2020~2 | 06/14/2020 - 07/14/2020 |
| Alaska Primary~* | 08/18/2020 | 07/19/2020 - 08/18/2020 |
| American Samoa General | 11/03/2020 | 09/04/2020 - 11/03/2020 |
| Arizona Primary ~* | 08/04/2020 | 07/05/2020 - 08/04/2020 |
| Arkansas Primary~* | 03/03/2020 | 02/02/2020 - 03/03/2020 |
| Arkansas Runoff (NOT HELD) ~* | 03/31/2020 | 03/01/2020 - 03/31/2020 |
| California Primary | 03/03/2020 | 02/02/2020 - 03/03/2020 |
| Colorado Primary~* | 06/30/2020 | 05/31/2020 - 06/30/2020 |
| Connecticut Primary | 08/11/2020~3 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Democratic Party | 05/11/2020~3 | 04/11/2020 - 05/11/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 1] | 05/07/2020~3 | 04/07/2020 - 05/07/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 2] | 05/11/2020~3 | 04/11/2020 - 05/11/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 3] | 05/12/2020~3 | 04/12/2020 - 05/12/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 4] | 05/13/2020~3 | 04/13/2020 - 05/13/2020 |
| Connecticut Convention - Republican Party [Dist. # 5] | 05/14/20203 | 04/14/2020 - 05/14/2020 |
| Delaware Primary~* | 09/15/2020 | 08/16/2020 - 09/15/2020 |
| District of Columbia Primary | 06/02/2020 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Florida Primary | 08/18/2020 | 07/19/2020 - 08/18/2020 |
| Georgia Primary~* | 06/09/2020~4 | 05/10/2020 - 06/09/2020 |
| Georgia Runoff~* | 08/11/2020~5 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| Georgia General Runoff~* | 01/05/2021 | 11/06/2020 - 01/05/2021 |
| Guam Primary | canceled~6 | n/a |
| Guam General Runoff | 11/17/2020 | 09/18/2020 - 11/17/2020 |
| Hawaii Primary | 08/08/2020 | 07/09/2020 - 08/08/2020 |
| Idaho Primary~* | 06/02/2020~7 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Illinois Primary~* | 03/17/2020 | 02/16/2020 - 03/17/2020 |
| Indiana Primary | 06/02/2020~3~8 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Indiana Convention - Libertarian Party | 03/07/2020~3 | 02/06/2020 - 03/07/2020 |
| Iowa Primary~* | 06/02/2020 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Kansas Primary~* | 08/04/2020~3 | 07/05/2020 - 08/04/2020 |
| Kansas Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 04/18/2020~3 | 03/19/2020 - 04/18/2020 |
| Kentucky Primary~* | 06/23/2020~9 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| Louisiana Primary~* | 07/24/2020~10~11 | 06/24/2020 - 07/24/2020 |
| Louisiana General~* | 11/03/2020~10 | 09/04/2020 - 11/03/2020 |
| Louisiana General Runoff~* | 12/05/2020~10 | 10/06/2020 - 12/05/2020 |
| Maine Primary~* | 07/14/2020~12 | 06/14/2020 - 07/14/2020 |
| Maryland Primary | 06/02/2020~3~13 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Massachusetts Primary~* | 09/01/2020 | 08/02/2020 - 09/01/2020 |
| Michigan Primary~* | 08/04/2020~3 | 07/05/2020 - 08/04/2020 |
| Michigan Convention - Green Party~* | 06/20/2020~3 | 05/21/2020 - 06/20/2020 |
| Michigan Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 07/18/2020~3 | 06/18/2020 - 07/18/2020 |
| Michigan Convention - US Taxpayers Party~* | 07/25/2020~3 | 06/25/2020 - 07/25/2020 |
| Minnesota Primary~* | 08/11/2020 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| Mississippi Primary~* | 03/10/2020 | 02/09/2020 - 03/10/2020 |
| Mississippi Runoff~* | 06/23/2020~14 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| Missouri Primary | 08/04/2020 | 07/05/2020 - 08/04/2020 |
| Montana Primary~* | 06/02/2020 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Nebraska Primary~* | 05/12/2020 | 04/12/2020 - 05/12/2020 |
| Nevada Primary | 06/09/2020 | 05/10/2020 - 06/09/2020 |
| New Hampshire Primary~* | 09/08/2020 | 08/09/2020 - 09/08/2020 |
| New Jersey Primary~* | 07/07/2020~15 | 06/07/2020 - 07/07/2020 |
| New Mexico Primary~* | 06/02/2020 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| New York Primary | 06/23/2020 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| North Carolina Primary~* | 03/03/2020 | 02/02/2020 - 03/03/2020 |
| North Carolina Runoff~* | 06/23/2020~16 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| North Dakota Primary | 06/09/2020 | 05/10/2020 - 06/09/2020 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 11/03/2020 | 09/04/2020 - 11/03/2020 |
| Ohio Primary | 04/28/2020~17 | 03/29/2020 - 04/28/2020 |
| Oklahoma Primary~* | 06/30/2020 | 05/31/2020 - 06/30/2020 |
| Oklahoma Runoff~* | 08/25/2020 | 07/26/2020 - 08/25/2020 |
| Oregon Primary~* | 05/19/2020~3 | 04/19/2020 - 05/19/2020 |
| Oregon Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 07/06/2020~3 | 06/06/2020 - 07/06/2020 |
| Oregon Convention - Pacific Green Party~* | 06/06/2020~3 | 05/07/2020 - 06/06/2020 |
| Pennsylvania Primary | 06/02/2020~18 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| Puerto Rico Primary | 08/09/2020~19 | 07/10/2020 - 08/09/2020 |
| Rhode Island Primary~* | 09/08/2020 | 08/09/2020 - 09/08/2020 |
| South Carolina Primary~* | 06/09/2020~3 | 05/10/2020 - 06/09/2020 |
| South Carolina Runoff(NOT HELD)~* | 06/23/2020~3 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| South Carolina Convention - Alliance Party~* | 04/18/2020~3 | 03/19/2020 - 04/18/2020 |
| South Carolina Convention - Constitution Party~* | 04/18/2020~3 | 03/19/2020 - 04/18/2020 |
| South Carolina Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 06/13/2020~3 | 05/14/2020 - 06/13/2020 |
| South Dakota Primary~* | 06/02/2020 | 05/03/2020 - 06/02/2020 |
| South Dakota Runoff~* | 08/11/2020 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| South Dakota Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 05/09/2020 | 04/09/2020 - 05/09/2020 |
| Tennessee Primary~* | 08/06/2020 | 07/07/2020 - 08/06/2020 |
| Texas Primary~* | 03/03/2020~3 | 02/02/2020 - 03/03/2020 |
| Texas Runoff~* | 07/14/202020 | 06/14/2020 - 07/14/2020 |
| Texas Convention - Green Party Senate~* | 04/18/2020~3 | 03/19/2020 - 04/18/2020 |
| Texas Convention - Libertarian Party Senate~* | 08/01/2020~3~21 | 07/02/2020 - 08/01/2020 |
| Texas Convention - Minor Party Single-County [Dist. #s 2-3, 7, 16, 18, 20, 29, 30] | 03/14/2020~3 | 02/13/2020 - 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 | 02/20/2020 - 03/21/2020 |
| Texas Convention -Republican Party [Dist. #4] | 08/08/2020~3 | 07/09/2020 - 08/08/2020 |
| Utah Primary | 06/30/2020~3 | 05/31/2020 - 06/30/2020 |
| Utah Convention - Constitution Party | 04/15/2020~3 | 03/16/2020 - 04/15/2020 |
| Utah Convention - Democratic Party | 04/25/2020~3 | 03/26/2020 - 04/25/2020 |
| Utah Convention - Libertarian Party | 04/25/2020~3 | 03/26/2020 - 04/25/2020 |
| Utah Convention - Republican Party | 04/25/2020~3 | 03/26/2020 - 04/25/2020 |
| Utah Convention - United Utah Party | 04/18/2020~3 | 03/19/2020 - 04/18/2020 |
| Vermont Primary | 08/11/2020 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| Virgin Islands Primary | 08/01/2020 | 07/02/2020 - 08/01/2020 |
| Virgin Islands General Runoff(NOT HELD) | 11/17/2020 | 09/18/2020 - 11/17/2020 |
| Virginia Primary~* | 06/23/2020~3~22 | 05/24/2020 - 06/23/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Democratic Party [Dist. # 9]~* | 05/02/2020~3 | 04/02/2020 - 05/02/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 4]~* | 06/27/2020~3~23 | 05/28/2020 - 06/27/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 5]~* | 06/13/2020~3~24 | 05/14/2020 - 06/13/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 7]~* | 07/18/2020~3~25 | 06/18/2020 - 07/18/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 8]~* | 05/30/2020~3 | 04/30/2020 - 05/30/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 10]~* | 06/20/2020~3~26 | 05/21/2020 - 06/20/2020 |
| Virginia Convention -Republican Party [Dist. # 11]~* | 06/20/2020~3~27 | 05/21/2020 - 06/20/2020 |
| Washington Primary | 08/04/2020 | 07/05/2020 - 08/04/2020 |
| West Virginia Primary~* | 06/09/2020~3~28 | 05/10/2020 - 06/09/2020 |
| West Virginia Convention - Libertarian Party~* | 04/04/2020~3 | 03/05/2020 - 04/04/2020 |
| West Virginia Convention - Mountain Party~* | 06/06/2020~3 | 05/07/2020 - 06/06/2020 |
| Wisconsin Primary | 08/11/2020 | 07/12/2020 - 08/11/2020 |
| Wyoming Primary~* | 08/18/2020 | 07/19/2020 - 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.