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SALT LAKE CITY — Although candidates have been jostling to unseat both Republican and Democratic frontrunners for the presidential election for months, the advent of 2024 means the U.S. is officially in a presidential election year.
Utah will also hold a series of high-profile elections, including for governor, senator and attorney general, in addition to state legislative and local races.
Here's a rundown of several key political dates, both in Utah and nationally:
Tuesday, Jan. 9: Last day for Utah voters to change party affiliation for the presidential and primary election cycle.
Monday, Jan. 15: Republicans in Iowa will hold caucus nominating votes to award delegates for the GOP presidential primary. The Iowa caucuses are the first official votes in the Republican race, though Democrats in the state will award delegates during a mail-in vote in March. Former President Donald Trump leads the pack of hopefuls, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Tuesday, Jan. 16: Utah lawmakers will begin their annual 45-day general legislative session in Salt Lake City. Lawmakers will consider hundreds of bills and will be tasked with approving the state's budget for the next year.
Tuesday, Jan. 23: New Hampshire will hold its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. President Joe Biden will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot in the state, after state Democrats declined to push back the date of the primary.
Feb. 3: Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina. Biden is the frontrunner on the Democratic ticket, though he faces an internal challenge from Rep. Dean Phillips.
Feb. 6: Democratic primary in Nevada.
Feb. 8: Nevada Republicans will hold nominating caucuses.
Feb. 23: Last day Utahns can register to vote for the presidential primary election.
Feb. 24: South Carolina Republican primary.
Feb. 27: Democrats and Republicans vote in the Michigan state-run primary, which was brought forward by the Democratic-controlled state in a move opposed by Republicans. Republicans will instead choose the majority of their delegates during caucuses in March.
March 1: Last day of the Utah Legislature's annual general session. Any bills not passed by midnight will be discarded.
March 2: Republicans in Michigan pick most of their delegates during party-run caucuses.
March 5: Known as Super Tuesday, this is the biggest single day of primaries and often helps whittle down the field of candidates. Both parties hold them in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia. Democrats in Utah will also vote in their primary while Republicans hold their caucuses in the state. Republicans in Alaska vote in their primary.
March 12: Georgia, Mississippi and Washington will hold primaries. Hawaii Republicans will vote in caucuses.
March 21: The last day Gov. Spencer Cox can veto any bills passed by lawmakers.
March 19: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio hold primaries.
April 27: Utah Republicans will hold their annual nominating convention in Salt Lake City.
June 4: Final states are scheduled to hold presidential primaries. Some states have yet to set primary or caucus dates.
June 14: Last day Utahns can register to vote in the regular primary election.
June 25: Regular primary election day in Utah.
July 15-18: Republicans will meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Republican National Convention, where the party will formally select a presidential nominee.
Aug. 19-22: Democrats will meet in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention and formally select a nominee.
Sept. 16: Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, will host the first presidential debate.
Sept. 25: The first and only vice presidential debate will be held at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Oct. 1: Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, will host the second presidential debate.
Oct. 9: The final presidential debate will be held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The university previously hosted a vice presidential debate in 2020.
Oct. 25: Last day Utahns can register to vote for the general presidential and regular elections.
Oct. 29: Last day Utahns can request a mail-in ballot.
Nov. 5: General Election Day. Mail-in ballots in Utah must be postmarked by Nov. 4.
