Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2024 (A New Era Emerges)

The Democratic Party presidential primaries of 2016 were held between January-June of 2024. The process determined who the Democratic Party would nominate to challenge other presidential candidates in the national election to succeed President Hillary Clinton at noon on January 20, 2025, following her two terms in office. The primary was noted for the success of candidates who affiliated themselves with the Democratic Socialists of America, with 40 out of the 50 states being won by a candidate who openly labelled themselves as "socialist". The insurgent campaign of Massachusetts Junior Senator Cornel West, a campaign that received much media scrutiny and controversy during his campaign, shocked observers by winning the campaign against a crowded field, despite a lack of support amongst Democratic politicians and a high level of doubt towards his ability to win the general election. At age 71, Cornel West is the oldest person to ever be nominated for President by the Democratic Party.

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Candidates:

Nominee:

John Fetterman, Junior Senator from Pennsylvania since 2019 (endorsed Cornel West)

Mandela Barnes, Governor of Wisconsin since 2019 (endorsed Cornel West)

Gwen Graham, Governor of Florida since 2019 (endorsed Mandela Barnes, then Cornel West)

Tom Perez, Governor of Maryland since 2019

Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey since 2013 (endorsed John Fetterman)

Lincoln Chafee, former Governor of Rhode Island (2011-2015)

Zephyr Teachout, Governor of New York since 2019 (endorsed John Fetterman, then Cornel West)

Andrew Cuomo, former Governor of New York (2011-2019)

Candidates who withdrew before the primaries

Kate Brown, former Governor of Oregon (2015-2023)

Levi Sanders, Senior Senator from Massachusetts since 2017 (endorsed John Fetterman, then Cornel West)

Valerie Jarrett, Governor of Illinois since 2019

Prospective candidates who declined to run:

Elizabeth Warren, Vice President of the United States since 2017

Kirsten Gillibrand, Junior Senator from New York since 2009 (endorsed Gwen Graham)

Martin O'Malley, former Secretary of Homeland Security (2017-2020) from Maryland (endorsed Mandela Barnes)

Huma Abedin, Secretary of State since 2021 from New York

Wendy Sherman, former Secretary of State (2017-2021) from Maryland (endorsed Gwen Graham)

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California since 2019 (endorsed Cory Booker, then Gwen Graham)

Pramila Jayapal, Junior Senator from Washington since 2019 (endorsed Levi Sanders, then John Fetterman)

Katie McGinty, Senior Senator from Pennsylvania since 2017

Marisa Márquez, Congresswoman from Texas's 23rd District since 2021 (endorsed Cornel West)