Timeline of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Rep. John Delaney was the first major candidate to announce his campaign, two and a half years before the 2020 Iowa caucus.

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang was the second major Democratic candidate to announce his campaign.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard became the first major female candidate to announce her candidacy on January 11, 2019.

Sen. Kamala Harris launched her bid on January 21, 2019.

Sen. Cory Booker launched his bid on February 1, 2019.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren launched her bid on February 9, 2019.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar launched her bid on February 10, 2019.

Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his second campaign on February 19, 2019.

Governor Jay Inslee launched his presidential bid on March 1, 2019, becoming the first incumbent governor to do so.

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke launched his bid on March 14, 2019.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg launched his bid on April 14, 2019.

In the weeks following the election of Donald Trump in the 2016 election, media speculation regarding potential candidates for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries began to circulate. As the Senate began confirmation hearings for members of the cabinet, speculation centered on the prospects of the "hell-no caucus", six senators who went on to vote against the majority of Trump's nominees. According to Politico, the members of the "hell-no caucus" were Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and Elizabeth Warren.^[1][2] Other speculation centered on then-Vice-President Joe Biden making a third presidential bid following failed attempts in 1988 and 2008.^[3]

• July 28: Representative John Delaney of Maryland announced his candidacy in an op-ed in The Washington Post,^[4] which broke the record for earliest major candidacy declaration in history.^[5]

• November 6: Entrepreneur Andrew Yang of New York announced his candidacy.^[6]

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) made changes to the role of superdelegates, deciding to allow them to vote on the first ballot only if the nomination is uncontested.^[7]

Democratic Party officials and television networks began discussions as to the nature and scheduling of the following year's debates and the nomination process.^[8]

• November 6: The 2018 midterm elections were held. The election was widely characterized as a "blue wave" election. Mass canvassing, voter registration drives and deep engagement techniques drove turnout high. Despite this, eventual presidential candidates U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke of Texas and State Senator Richard Ojeda of West Virginia both lost their respective races.^[9]
• November 11: Former state senator Richard Ojeda of West Virginia announced his candidacy.^[10]

• December 20: The DNC announced the preliminary schedule for the 12 official DNC-sanctioned debates, set to begin in June 2019, with six debates in 2019 and the remaining six during the first four months of 2020.^[11]
• December 31: U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president.^[12]

Former Vice President Joe Biden launched his third campaign on April 25, 2019.

Rep. Eric Swalwell became the first representative to suspend their campaign following the first debate on July 8, 2019.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer launched his campaign on July 9, 2019.

Former Governor John Hickenlooper suspended his campaign on August 15, 2019, and subsequently launched a bid for the United States Senate. He later endorsed Michael Bennet.

Kirsten Gillibrand became the first incumbent Senator and first female major candidate to suspend her campaign on August 28, 2019.

Mayor Bill de Blasio suspended his campaign on September 20, 2019, and endorsed Bernie Sanders after the New Hampshire primary.

Rep. Tim Ryan suspended his campaign on October 24, 2019, and subsequently endorsed Joe Biden.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched his campaign via video on November 24, 2019.

Governor Steve Bullock suspended his campaign and declined to run for the United States Senate on December 2, 2019. He later reversed his decision and challenged Senator Steve Daines after meeting with Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer.

Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro suspended his campaign on January 2, 2020, and subsequently endorsed Elizabeth Warren.

Spiritual author Marianne Williamson suspended her campaign on January 10, 2020, and subsequently endorsed Bernie Sanders.

Sen. Michael Bennet suspended his campaign on February 11, 2020, after the polls closed in the New Hampshire primary.

Former Governor Deval Patrick suspended his campaign on February 12, 2020, prior to the Nevada caucus.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg suspended his campaign on March 4, 2020, after a distant third-place finish on Super Tuesday.

• January 11: U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii announced her candidacy during an interview on The Van Jones Show.^[13]
• January 12: Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro officially announced his candidacy at a rally in San Antonio, Texas.^[14]
• January 15: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announced the formation of an exploratory committee during an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.^[15]
• January 21: Senator Kamala Harris of California announced her candidacy during an interview on Good Morning America.^[16]
• January 23: Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, formed an exploratory committee.^[17]
• January 25: Ojeda dropped out of the race.^[18]
• January 28: Author, activist, and spiritual leader Marianne Williamson announced her candidacy at a rally in Los Angeles, California.^[19]

• February 1: Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey announced his candidacy.^[20]
• February 9: Warren formally announced her candidacy at a rally in Lawrence, Massachusetts.^[21]
• February 10: Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota announced her candidacy at a rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[22]
• February 19: Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced his candidacy via an email to supporters and appeared on Vermont Public Radio as well as CBS This Morning as part of his campaign launch.^[23]

• March 1: Governor Jay Inslee of Washington announced his candidacy.^[24]
• March 4: Former governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado announced his candidacy.^[25]
• March 11: The DNC announced Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the site of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.^[26]
• March 13: Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, Florida, formed an exploratory committee.^[27]
• March 14: Former Representative Beto O'Rourke of Texas announced his candidacy.^[28]
• March 17: Gillibrand formally announced her candidacy via an online video.^[29]
• March 19: An exploratory committee was formed on behalf of former Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska.^[30]
• March 28: Messam formally announced his candidacy in an online video.^[27]

• April 1: The We the People Membership Summit was held in Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C. by the Center for Popular Democracy Action, Communications Workers of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Service Employees International Union, SEIU 32BJ, Sierra Club. Issues like democracy reform were discussed.^[31][32]
• April 4: Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio announced his candidacy and appeared on The View as part of a campaign launch.^[33]
• April 8:
  • Gravel formally announced his candidacy in an online video.^[34]
  • Representative Eric Swalwell of California announced his candidacy during an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.^[35]
• April 14: Pete Buttigieg announced his candidacy at a rally in South Bend, Indiana.^[36]
• April 22: Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts announced his candidacy in an online video.^[37]
• April 24: The She the People Presidential Forum was held at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas by She the People. Issues affecting women of color were discussed.^[38][39]
• April 25: Former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware announced his candidacy in an online video^[40][41]
• April 27: The National Forum on Wages and Working People: Creating an Economy that Works for All was held at Enclave, Las Vegas, Nevada by the Service Employees International Union and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Economic issues affecting low-income Americans were discussed.^[42][43]

• May 2: Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado announced his candidacy during an interview on CBS This Morning.^[44]
• May 14: Governor Steve Bullock of Montana announced his candidacy in an online video.^[45][46]
• May 16: Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City announced his candidacy in an online video^[47][48] and appeared on Good Morning America as part of a campaign launch.^[49]

• June 1: The Big Ideas Forum was held at Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, California by MoveOn. Ideas that could inspire voters and transform the country were discussed.^[50][51]
• May 31 – June 2: The California State Democratic Convention, a major "cattle call" event attended by most major candidates, took place in San Francisco.^[52][53]
• June 9: Iowa Democrats' Hall of Fame Dinner, a "cattle call" event featuring 19 candidates, took place at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids, IA.^[54]
• June 13: The Democratic National Committee announced that 20 candidates will participate in the first official debate on June 26–27.^[55]
• June 17: The Poor People's Campaign Presidential Forum was held at Trinity Washington University, Washington, D.C. by Poor People's Campaign. Issues affecting low-income Americans were discussed.^[56][57]
• June 21: The NALEO Presidential Candidate Forum was held at Telemundo Center, Miami, Florida by the NALEO. Issues affecting Hispanic and Latino Americans were discussed.^[58][59]
• June 22:
  • Former Representative Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania announced his candidacy with a midnight campaign website launch.^[60]
  • The South Carolina Democratic Party Convention was held at the Columbia Convention Center, Columbia, South Carolina by the South Carolina Democratic Party.^[61][62]
  • The We Decide: 2020 Election Membership Forum was held at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Reproductive health care and reproductive rights were discussed.^[63][64]
• June 26: The first part of the first Democratic debate took place in Miami, Florida at the Arsht Center.^[65]
• June 27: The second part of the first Democratic debate took place in Miami, Florida at the Arsht Center.^[65]

• July 5: The Strong Public Schools Presidential Forum was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas by the National Education Association. Issues affecting education and public schools were discussed.^[66][67]
• July 8: Swalwell dropped out of the race^[68] and announced he would run for reelection to his seat in the House of Representatives in 2020.^[69]
• July 9: Billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer announced his candidacy in an online video.^[70]
• July 15–17, 19–20: The Iowa Presidential Candidate Forums were held in Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Council Bluffs by AARP and The Des Moines Register. Issues affecting older voters in Iowa were discussed.^[71]
• July 24: The NAACP 2020 Presidential Candidates Forum was held in Detroit, Michigan.^[72]
• July 30: The first part of the second Democratic debate took place in Detroit, Michigan at the Fox Theatre.^[73]
• July 31: The second part of the second Democratic debate took place in Detroit, Michigan at the Fox Theatre.^[74]

• August 3: The Public Service Forum was held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, by AFSCME and the HuffPost. Public service, trade unions, labor rights, and the economy were discussed.^[75]
• August 6: Gravel dropped out of the race.^[76]
• August 10: The Gun Sense Forum was held in Des Moines, Iowa by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action. Gun violence was discussed.^[77]
• August 15: Hickenlooper dropped out of the race, later announcing a campaign for Colorado's Class 2 United States Senate seat up for election in 2020.^[78]
• August 8–11, 13, 17: The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox was held at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa by the Des Moines Register. Attending candidates provided 20-minute speeches on their political platforms.^[79]
• August 19–20: The Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum was held at Orpheum Theater, Sioux City, Iowa by Four Directions, Native Organizers Alliance, National Congress of American Indians, Native American Rights Fund, Coalition of Large Tribes, and Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association.^[80]
• August 21: Inslee dropped out of the race and announced a campaign for reelection as Governor of Washington in 2020.^[81]
• August 23: Moulton dropped out of the race^[82] and announced he would run for reelection to his seat in the House of Representatives in 2020.^[69]
• August 28: Gillibrand dropped out of the race.^[83]

• September 4: A Climate Crisis Town Hall was held by CNN at New York City, New York. Global warming was discussed.^[84]
• September 7: The New Hampshire Democratic Party State Convention was held at Southern New Hampshire University Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Nineteen candidates were in attendance and addressed the delegates and voters.^[85]
• September 12: The third Democratic debate took place in Houston, Texas at Texas Southern University.^[86][87]
• September 17: The Workers' Presidential Summit was held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA by the Philadelphia Council AFL–CIO. Issues affecting labor unions and union workers were discussed.^[88]
• September 19–20: A Climate Forum was held at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., sponsored by MSNBC, Georgetown University, and Our Daily Planet.^[89]
• September 20:
  • De Blasio dropped out of the race.^[90]
  • An LGBTQ forum was held in the Sinclair Auditorium at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA by One Iowa, The Advocate, and GLAAD. LGBTQ rights were discussed.^[91]
• September 21: The Iowa People's Presidential Forum was held at the Iowa Events Centre in Des Moines, Iowa by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund and People's Action. Healthcare, green energy and education were discussed.^[92]
• September 22: A Youth Forum was held in Des Moines, Iowa by Des Moines Public Schools and the Des Moines Register. Students and youth issues were discussed.^[93]

• October 2: A Gun Safety Forum was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, by Giffords and March for Our Lives. Gun violence was discussed.^[94]
• October 10: An LGBTQ Forum was held at The Novo in Los Angeles, California by the Human Rights Campaign and UCLA. LGBTQ rights were discussed.^[95][96]
• October 15: The fourth Democratic debate took place in Westerville, Ohio at Otterbein University.^[97][98] The debate featured 12 candidates, setting a record for the highest number of candidates in one presidential debate.^[99][100]
• October 24: Ryan dropped out of the race^[101] and announced he would run for reelection to his seat in the House of Representatives in 2020.^[102]
• October 26–27: The Collegiate Bipartisan Presidential forum was held at Benedict College in Columbia, SC by Mayor Steve Benjamin and Benedict College. Students' interests, criminal justice reform and racial justice were discussed.^[103]

• November 1:
  • O'Rourke dropped out of the race.^[104]
  • The Liberty and Justice Celebration was held at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA by the Iowa Democratic Party. Candidates performed 12-minute speeches covering their political platforms.^[105][106]
• November 8: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg prepared to enter the race by filing for ballot access in Alabama.^[107]
• November 14: Former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick announced his candidacy.^[108]
• November 16: The California Democratic Party Fall Endorsing Convention Forum was held at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California by the California Democratic Party/Univision. Latino issues were discussed.^[109]
• November 17: The Nevada State Democratic Party's First In The West "cattle call" event was held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.^[110]
• November 19: Messam dropped out of the race.^[111]
• November 20: The fifth Democratic debate took place in Atlanta, Georgia at Tyler Perry Studios.^[112]
• November 21: Bloomberg formed an exploratory committee.^[113]
• November 24: Bloomberg announced his candidacy with a website launch.^[114]

• December 1: Sestak dropped out of the race.^[115]
• December 2: Bullock dropped out of the race.^[116]
• December 3: Harris dropped out of the race.^[117]
• December 7: The Teamsters Union Forum was held by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Storm Lake Times and The Guardian at the Veteran's Auditorium in Cedar Rapids, IA. Workers' rights and the Teamsters three-point pledge were discussed.^[118]
• December 14: The Public Education Forum 2020 was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA by the American Federation of Teachers, the National Educational Association and the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. Education was discussed.^[119]
• December 19: The sixth Democratic debate took place in Los Angeles, California, at Loyola Marymount University.^[120]