2020 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary

Rhode Island had planned to join several northeastern states in holding primaries on the same date (April 28),[1] often dubbed the "Acela primary" in reference to the Amtrak service by that name.[2] The other states that were to vote that day were Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. On March 23, 2020, Governor Gina Raimondo, at the request of the board of elections, joined Maryland, Rhode Island, as well as Indiana, in delaying the primary until June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.[3]

Voting took place throughout the state from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. In the semi-closed primary, candidates had to meet a threshold of 15% at the congressional district or statewide level to be considered viable. The 26 pledged delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention were allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of these, 9 each were allocated to both 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 pledged delegates.[4] Originally planned with 21 delegates, the final number included a 25% bonus of 5 additional delegates on the original number of 18 district and at-large delegates by the Democratic National Committee, 10% for the original April date, which belonged to Stage II on the primary timetable, and an additional 15% for the regional "Acela" cluster alongside originally five other states that would have voted on the same day.[5][6]

District-level delegates were listed on the presidential primary ballot. Should candidates have been entitled to more delegates based on the primary results of the primary than eligible delegates presented, then the state party committee would have designated additional delegates at a special post-primary caucus, before voting on the 5 pledged at-large and 3 PLEO delegates. Both would have occurred on May 17, but was postponed first to June 6 and then to June 15. The 26 pledged delegates Rhode Island sent to the national convention were joined by 9 unpledged PLEO delegates (4 members of the Democratic National Committee; 4 members of Congress, including both Senators and U.S. Representatives; and the governor Gina Raimondo).[4]

The following candidates appeared on the ballot in Rhode Island:

• Joe Biden
• Tulsi Gabbard (withdrawn)
• Bernie Sanders (withdrawn)
• Elizabeth Warren (withdrawn)
• Andrew Yang (withdrawn)

There was also an uncommitted option.

• 2020 Rhode Island Republican presidential primary

• The Green Papers delegate allocation summary
• Rhode Island Democratic Party draft delegate selection plan Archived 2019-07-13 at the Wayback Machine