Super Tuesday is a crucial day during the U.S. presidential primary elections, typically held in February or March. On this day, the largest number of states conduct their primaries and caucuses, resulting in a significant portion of delegates being awarded—roughly one-third of the total for each party's nominating convention. Due to the substantial delegate count at stake, Super Tuesday serves as a strong predictor of the eventual presidential nominees for both major political parties.
1968: The Chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention
Following the chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, states began seeking ways to increase their influence in the presidential nomination process. This led to the creation of geographic blocs to encourage candidates to spend time in a region.
1976: First Use of "Super Tuesday"
The term "Super Tuesday" was first used in 1976 to refer to presidential primary elections. This term, used by journalists and political pundits, marked the beginning of the trend of holding multiple state primaries on the same day.
1984: Mondale and Reagan Secure Nominations in 1984
In 1984, Walter Mondale secured the Democratic presidential nomination, largely due to his Super Tuesday victories. In the Republican primaries, incumbent President Ronald Reagan was the only candidate to secure delegates.
1984: Three "Super Tuesdays" in 1984 Democratic Primaries
The 1984 Democratic primaries included three "Super Tuesdays." The third, featuring five states, saw Walter Mondale likely securing enough delegates to win the nomination, despite Gary Hart's hopes for a superdelegate shift.
1988: The Rise of the Southern Super Tuesday
In 1988, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia designated the second Tuesday of March as Super Tuesday, with other Southern states joining later. This move aimed to moderate the Democratic party and provided Republicans a chance to win over disaffected Democrats.
1992: Clinton's Southern Success on Super Tuesday
In the 1992 Super Tuesday, Democrat Bill Clinton won several Southern primaries, paving the way for his Democratic nomination and eventual presidency. This highlighted the impact of Super Tuesday on candidate success.
1996: Dole and Clinton Dominate Super Tuesday
During the Super Tuesday of March 12, 1996, Bob Dole secured a sweep, propelling him towards the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, incumbent President Bill Clinton won all delegates in the Democratic primaries.
1996: Emergence of "Southern Tuesday"
From 1996 to 2004, most Southern primaries were held the week after Super Tuesday, a day dubbed "Southern Tuesday." This highlighted the significance of Southern states in the presidential nomination process.
1999: Rotating Regional Primary System Adopted
In 1999, the National Association of Secretaries of State adopted the Rotating Regional Primary System as part of the ongoing debate and reform proposals aimed at the current primary system.
2000: Gore and Bush Solidify Nominations on Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday on March 7, 2000, witnessed the largest presidential primary election in U.S. history up to that point, with sixteen states participating. Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush cemented their nomination bids through Super Tuesday victories.
February 3, 2004: The Rise of "Mini-Tuesday"
In 2004, several states moved their primaries to February 3, creating "Mini-Tuesday" or "Super Tuesday I." This significantly impacted the Democratic primaries, while the Republican primaries remained uncontested due to incumbent President George W. Bush's presumptive nominee status.
2004: Emergence of "Southern Tuesday"
From 1996 to 2004, most Southern primaries were held the week after Super Tuesday, a day dubbed "Southern Tuesday." This highlighted the significance of Southern states in the presidential nomination process.
February 5, 2008: "Super Duper Tuesday" Emerges
On February 5, 2008, 24 states shifted their primary dates, creating the largest "Super Tuesday" ever, dubbed "Giga Tuesday," "Mega Giga Tuesday," "Tsunami Tuesday," or "Super Duper Tuesday" due to its magnitude.
March 4, 2008: A Less Super Super Tuesday
With only four states holding elections on March 4, 2008, the traditional Super Tuesday date, it was considered less impactful due to the shift of many states to the earlier February 5th Super Tuesday.
March 6, 2012: Republican Focus on Super Tuesday 2012
Super Tuesday in 2012, occurring on March 6th, held significant weight in the Republican primaries, with 419 delegates (18.3% of the total) at stake across 10 states. Meanwhile, the Democratic primaries were largely uncontested due to incumbent President Barack Obama's assured nomination.
March 1, 2016: The SEC Primary
Super Tuesday in the 2016 presidential election was held on March 1, 2016, and became known as the SEC Primary, reflecting the participation of numerous states from the U.S. Southeastern Conference for college athletics.
March 15, 2016: Super Tuesday II or Mega Tuesday
March 15, 2016, saw the emergence of "Super Tuesday II," "Mega Tuesday," or the "Ides of March Primaries." These primaries were significant, especially for the Republicans, as they introduced winner-takes-all voting systems in four of the five participating states.
March 3, 2020: A Crucial Super Tuesday in 2020
The Super Tuesday of March 3, 2020, held significant weight, with fourteen states and American Samoa holding primaries and caucuses respectively. Notably, this Super Tuesday allocated a substantial portion (34.1%) of pledged delegates in the Democratic primaries, driven by the populous states of California and Texas.
2024: Super Tuesday 2024
Super Tuesday took place on March 5th, 2024, with 865 Republican delegates and 1,420 Democratic delegates chosen in the primaries and caucuses held on this day. Iowa's Democratic mail-in caucus also concluded on this Super Tuesday.