The 2020 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary took place on February 11, 2020, as the second nominating contest in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 presidential election, following the Iowa caucuses the week before. The New Hampshire primary was a semi-closed primary, meaning that only Democrats and independents were allowed to vote in this primary. New Hampshire sent 33 delegates to the national convention, of which 24 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary, and the other 9 were unpledged delegates preselected independently of the primary results.

Senator Bernie Sanders won the primary with 25.6% of the vote, edging out former mayor Pete Buttigieg after his narrow win in Iowa, who came in second place with 24.3% of the vote. Both had already led the results in Iowa. This was a decline in support for Sanders, who in 2016 had won New Hampshire with 60.14% to Hillary Clinton's 37.68%. Both Sanders and Buttigieg received nine delegates, while Senator Amy Klobuchar unexpectedly finished in third place and received six delegates; her third-place finish was described as "Klomentum" or "Klobucharge" by several observers, but she was not able to make use of this in the following primaries. Senator Elizabeth Warren and former vice president Joe Biden, who had been the leading contenders nationally, both underperformed expectations, coming in fourth and fifth, respectively, and received no delegates. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet finished eighth, tenth and eleventh respectively and all suspended their presidential campaigns after their poor results.

Voter turnout set a new record for New Hampshire primaries, with 298,377 ballots being cast, breaking the previous record of 287,527 set in the 2008 primary. This was the third consecutive contested Democratic primary in which New Hampshire voted for the candidate that did not receive the Democratic nomination. Despite underperforming quite drastically in this primary, Biden later went on to win the nomination and defeat incumbent president Donald Trump in the general election, including a comfortable general election victory in New Hampshire.

Procedure The state's ballot access laws have traditionally been lenient, with prospective presidential candidates required to pay only a $1,000 fee to secure a line on the primary ballot. Primary elections were held on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The first polls opened at midnight local time (EST), with the vast majority of polling places closed by 7 p.m. and a small number of cities allowed to close at 8 p.m.

In the semi-closed primary, candidates had to meet a viability threshold of 15 percent at the congressional district or statewide level in order to be considered viable. The 24 pledged delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention were all allocated proportionally on the basis of the qualified results of the primary, in the two congressional districts and on statewide level respectively. Of these, 8 each were allocated to each of the state's 2 congressional districts and another 3 were allocated to party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates), in addition to 5 at-large delegates. The national convention delegation meeting was to be held in Concord on April 25, to vote on the exact names of the five at-large and three pledged PLEO delegates for the Democratic National Convention. The delegation also included 9 unpledged PLEO delegates (also known as superdelegates): 5 members of the Democratic National Committee and 4 members of Congress (both senators and 2 representatives).

Pledged nationalconvention delegates Type CD1 8 CD2 8 3 At-large 5 Total pledged delegates 24

Candidates on the ballot The following candidates were on the ballot and are listed in order of filing.

Running

Mark Stewart Greenstein, Connecticut Pete Buttigieg, Indiana Thomas James Torgesen, New York Henry Hewes, New York Bernie Sanders, Vermont David John Thistle, Massachusetts Michael A. Ellinger, California Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii Tom Koos, California Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Michael Bennet, Colorado Andrew Yang, New York Joe Biden, Delaware Steve Burke, New York Tom Steyer, California Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente III, California Robby Wells, Georgia Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Lorenz Kraus, New York Raymond Michael Moroz, New York Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Sam Sloan, New York Rita Krichevsky, New Jersey Mosie Boyd, Arkansas Jason Evritte Dunlap, Maryland

Withdrawn

Marianne Williamson, California John Delaney, Maryland Kamala Harris, California Steve Bullock, Montana Julian Castro, Texas Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Ben Gleib, California Cory Booker, New Jersey

Brian Moore qualified but withdrew early enough so that he did not appear on the ballot.

Forums and other events Prospective candidates began making visits to New Hampshire in 2017.Paul Steinhauser (September 26, 2017) Trump fuels early N.H. visits by potential 2020 Democratic White House contenders, Concord Monitor . Among the more notable events of the campaign was the 2019 state convention, at which 19 of the candidates give speeches. The eighth Democratic primary debate took place in the state on February 7, 2020. A Lesser-Known Candidates Forum was also held, featuring candidates on the New Hampshire ballot but who were not considered major candidates.

Polling Polling aggregation Source of poll aggregation Dateupdated Datespolled BernieSanders PeteButtigieg ElizabethWarren JoeBiden AmyKlobuchar AndrewYang TulsiGabbard TomSteyer Other Un-decided270 to Win270 to Win Feb 10, 2020 Feb 4–9, 2020 27.3% 20.9% 13.1% 12.3% 10.3% 3.0% 2.7% 2.1% 1.9% 6.4%RealClear PoliticsRealClear Politics Feb 10, 2020 Feb 6–9, 2020 28.7% 21.3% 11.0% 11.0% 11.7% 3.7% 3.3% 1.7% 1.3% 6.3%FiveThirtyEight Feb 10, 2020 until Feb 10, 2020 26.0% 21.6% 12.5% 11.7% 10.3% 3.0% 2.9% 2.6% 3.5% 5.8% Average 27.3% 21.3% 12.2% 11.7% 10.8% 3.2% 3.0% 2.1% 2.2% 6.2% New Hampshire primary results (February 11, 2020) 25.6% 24.3% 9.2% 8.4% 19.7% 2.8% 3.3% 3.6% 2.7% –

Polling from January 1, 2020, to February 11, 2020 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JoeBiden PeteButtigieg TulsiGabbard AmyKlobuchar BernieSanders TomSteyer ElizabethWarren AndrewYang Other Undecided New Hampshire primary (popular vote) Feb 11, 2020 – – 8.4% 24.3% 3.3% 19.7% 25.6% 3.6% 9.2% 2.8% 2.7% –AtlasIntelAtlasIntel Feb 8–10, 2020 431 (LV) ± 5.0% 12% 24% 3% 14% 24% 1% 11% 5% – 6%Data For ProgressData For Progress Feb 7–10, 2020 1296 (LV) ± 2.7% 9% 26% 3% 13% 28% 3% 14% 5% – –American Research GroupAmerican Research Group Feb 8–9, 2020 400 (LV) – 13% 20% 3% 13% 28% 2% 11% 3% 5% 2%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 8–9, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 10% 23% 2% 14% 30% 2% 11% 4% 4% –Change ResearchChange Research Feb 8–9, 2020 662 (LV) ± 3.8% 9% 21% 6% 8% 30% 3% 8% 5% 1% 9%Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 8–9, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 12% 19% 3% 14% 27% 2% 12% 3% 3% 7%ElucdElucd Feb 7–9, 2020 492 (LV) ± 4.4% 8% 20% – 12% 26% – 10% – – 15%University of New Hampshire/CNNUniversity of New Hampshire/CNN Feb 6–9, 2020 365 (LV) ± 5.1% 11% 22% 5% 7% 29% 1% 10% 4% 1% 10%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 7–8, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 11% 20% 3% 13% 30% 2% 12% 4% 4% –Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 7–8, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 10% 22% 2% 9% 24% 2% 13% 3% 3% 12%Boston Herald/FPU/NBC10Boston Herald-FPU-NBC10 Feb 5–8, 2020 512 (LV) – 14% 20% 0% 6% 23% 2% 16% 3% 3% 13%YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News Feb 5–8, 2020 848 (LV) ± 4.3% 12% 25% 2% 10% 29% 1% 17% 1% 3% –University of New Hampshire/CNNUniversity of New Hampshire/CNN Feb 5–8, 2020 384 (LV) ± 5.0% 12% 21% 5% 6% 28% 2% 9% 4% 2% 11%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 6–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 11% 24% 5% 9% 31% 2% 11% 3% 3% –Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 6–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 11% 25% 2% 6% 24% 2% 14% 3% 4% 9%University of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell Feb 4–7, 2020 440 (LV) ± 6.5% 14% 17% 4% 8% 25% 5% 15% 3% 5% 4%University of New Hampshire/CNNUniversity of New Hampshire/CNN Feb 4–7, 2020 365 (LV) ± 5.1% 11% 21% 6% 5% 28% 3% 9% 3% 3% 11%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 5–6, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 11% 23% 6% 9% 32% 2% 13% 2% 3% –Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 5–6, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 11% 23% 4% 6% 24% 3% 13% 3% 4% 12%Marist/NBC NewsMarist/NBC News Feb 4–6, 2020 709 (LV) ± 4.7% 13% 21% 3% 8% 25% 4% 14% 4% 3% 5%Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 4–5, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 12% 19% 5% 6% 25% 4% 11% 2% 1% 15%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University Feb 3–5, 2020 503 (LV) ± 4.4% 17% 20% 4% 9% 24% 3% 13% 4% 2% 5% 17% 22% – 13% 27% – 13% – 3% 4% 19% 28% – – 28% – 16% – 3% 5%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 3–5, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 12% 21% 5% 11% 31% 1% 12% 4% 2% –Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 3–4, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 15% 15% 5% 6% 24% 5% 10% 3% 1% 14%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 2–4, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 13% 17% 6% 11% 32% 2% 11% 6% 3% – Feb 3, 2020 Iowa caucusesSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TVSuffolk University/Boston Globe/WBZ-TV Feb 2–3, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 18% 11% 5% 6% 24% 4% 13% 3% 3% 14%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Feb 1–3, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 13% 12% 4% 12% 32% 5% 13% 5% 4% –Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 14% 13% 7% 8% 29% 8% 12% 7% 2% –Saint Anselm CollegeSaint Anselm College Jan 29 – Feb 2, 2020 491 (LV) ± 4.4% 19% 14% 3% 11% 19% 5% 11% 4% 2% 11%Boston Herald/FPU/NBC10Boston Herald-FPU-NBC10 Jan 29 – Feb 1, 2020 454 (LV) ± 4.6% 24% 8% 3% 4% 31% No voters 17% 1% 5% 7%University of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell Jan 28–31, 2020 400 (LV) ± 6.4% 22% 12% 5% 6% 23% 6% 19% 2% 1% 4%YouGov/UMass Amherst/WCVBYouGov/UMass Amherst/WCVB Jan 17–29, 2020 500 (LV) ± 5.3% 20% 12% 5% 5% 25% 5% 17% 4% 2% 3%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group Jan 24–27, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4% 13% 12% 8% 7% 28% 2% 11% 5% 8% 6%Boston Herald/FPU/NBC10 Jan 23–26, 2020 407 (LV) ± 4.9% 22% 10% 3% 5% 29% 0% 16% 1% 7% 9%Marist/NBC NewsMarist/NBC News Jan 20–23, 2020 697 (LV) ± 4.5% 15% 17% 6% 10% 22% 3% 13% 5% 2% 7%University of New Hampshire/CNNUniversity of New Hampshire/CNN Jan 15–23, 2020 516 (LV) ± 4.3% 16% 15% 5% 6% 25% 2% 12% 5% 2% 10%MassINC Polling Group/WBURMassINC Polling Group/WBUR Jan 17–21, 2020 426 (LV) ± 4.8% 14% 17% 5% 6% 29% 2% 13% 5% 4% 5%Suffolk University/Boston GlobeSuffolk University/Boston Globe Jan 15–19, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 15% 12% 5% 5%16% 3% 10% 6% 3% 24%Emerson College/WHDHEmerson College/WHDH Jan 13–16, 2020 657 (LV) ± 3.8% 14% 18% 5% 10% 23% 4% 14% 6% 7% – Jan 13, 2020 Booker withdraws from the raceBoston Herald/FPU/NBC10Boston Herald-FPU-NBC10 Jan 8–12, 2020 434 (LV) – 26% 7% 4% 2% 22% 2% 18% 2% 7% 12%Patinkin Research Strategies/Yang 2020Patinkin Research Strategies/Yang 2020 Jan 5–7, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4% 21% 17% 7% 6% 19% 6% 10% 5% 3% 7%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University Jan 3–7, 2020 404 (LV) ± 4.9% 19% 20% 4% 6% 18% 4% 15% 3% 3% 7% 21% 20% – 7% 21% – 15% 5% 5% 8% 24% 23% – – 21% – 18% – 5% 8%YouGov/CBS NewsYouGov/CBS News 487 (LV) ± 5.3% 25% 13% 1% 7% 27% 3% 18% 2% 3% –