US Presidential Election 2024 Events Calendar

Presidential Debate hosted by CNN: June 27

The first presidential debate, hosted by CNN, set the stage for the 2024 election, featuring former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden. Political analysts claimed neither candidate did enough to move the needle in their favor, but many Democrats called on Biden to not pursue reelection, following his evident lack of vigor.

Republican National Convention: July 15 - 18

Former President Trump was declared the GOP nominee for a third time. The convention was emotionally charged following an assassination attempt on the President two days prior on Saturday, July 13.

JD Vance announced as Trump VP pick: July 15

President Trump announced JD Vance as his running mate on the first day of the convention. Vance is the current junior US senator from Ohio who opposed Trump’s candidacy in the 2016 election. Before serving as senator, Vance served in the US Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 and gained national recognition for his memoir *Hillbilly Elegy*, adapted into a film in 2020.

Biden Announced He Will Not Seek Reelection: July 21

President Biden announced he will not seek reelection on Sunday, July 21. The President cited an obligation to step aside so a candidate in whom more of his party members have confidence in can take the nomination. Major democratic figures then came out in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, who President Biden would later endorse, himself.

FOMC Meeting: July 30 – 31

The first Fed meeting since new major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates were announced. Traders interested in following election news as it impacts the market will do well to follow the outcome of these meetings closely, as the committee’s policy decisions on interest rates and other monetary policies will impact markets more than short-term election volatility.

Tim Walz Announced as Harris VP Pick: August 6

Vice President Harris announced Tim Walz, the current Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate. Walz served as a US House of Representatives member for Minnesota’s first district for more than a decade before becoming governor. Before his government career, Walz worked in the Army National Guard and as a high school social studies teacher.

Hawaii Nonpresidential Primary: August 10

Hawaii holds its nonpresidential primary on August 10, where voters selected candidates for various state and local offices. The primary included races for governor, US Senate, and the House of Representatives, as well as several key state legislative positions. Several more states will have primary elections leading up to November 5, wherein primary winners will be up for vote in the general election.

Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin Nonpresidential Primaries: August 13

Four more states hold nonpresidential elections to select party candidates for various state and local offices that will appear on the general election ballot.

Democratic National Convention: August 19 – 22

The Democratic National Convention is a four-day event where the party will officially nominate its Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, expected to be Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, respectively. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as other notable Democratic figures, are scheduled to speak at the convention.

Alaska, Florida, Wyoming Nonpresidential Primaries: August 20

Three more states hold nonpresidential elections to select party candidates for various state and local offices that will appear on the general election ballot.

Massachusetts Nonpresidential Primary: September 3

Massachusetts holds nonpresidential elections to select party candidates for various state and local offices that will appear on the general election ballot.

Presidential Debate Hosted by ABC: September 10

The second Presidential debate, hosted by ABC on September 10, will be the first debate between President Trump and the new Democratic nominee, Vice President Harris. The debate will be moderated by "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and ABC News Live "Prime" anchor Linsey Davis.

Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Nonpresidential Primaries: September 10

Three more states hold nonpresidential elections to select party candidates for various state and local offices that will appear on the general election ballot.

FOMC Meeting: September 17 – 18

The final Fed meeting before the Presidential election. Historically, the Fed pursues its dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment regardless of the political environment of an election year. Traders watching how the election impacts financial markets should not forget to pay close attention to FOMC meeting announcements.

Voter Registration Closes: October

Voter registration ahead of the Presidential Election closes up to one month prior, depending on the citizen’s state. Some states like Colorado allow you to register to vote as late as the day of the election if voting in person, and others like Georgia close registration on the fifth Monday before Election Day. Eligible Americans can use nonpartisan nonprofit resources like Vote.org to determine your voter registration deadline.

Absentee/Mail-in/Early Voting Begins: October

Absentee, mail-in, and early voting begins on different dates depending on your state. Request deadlines for absentee and mail-in voting vary by state, as do deadlines to submit your ballot. Nonpartisan nonprofits like Vote.org track absentee ballot deadlines for all states as well as when early voting begins.

Last US CPI Update (Sep) Before Vote: October 10

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a monthly report published by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics detailing the change in price for goods and services over the past month and past 12 months. The report is a measure of inflation for the US dollar, and extreme movements in either direction can stress markets ahead of the US Presidential Election.

Last US NFP and Labor Report Update (Oct) Before Vote: Nov 1

The Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) is a labor report published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released on the first Friday of every month. The report is a good indicator of recent employment trends, listing the number of new jobs created in the past month, excluding those in farms, households and nonprofit organizations.

2024 Presidential Election: November 5

It’s important to know your polling location ahead of time as well as when and how you will arrive to ensure you are able to cast your vote before polls close.

FOMC Meeting: November 6 – 7

The Fed meets again immediately after Election Day. While the committee stays impartial to the noise of an election year, if markets move drastically in response to the days leading up to the election, the FOMC could adjust monetary policy in response.

Electors Cast Their Votes: December 17

The members of the Electoral College convene on December 17 to cast their official votes for the President and Vice President of the United States. This step, following the general election, is a formal requirement in the US electoral process and officially determines the outcome of the presidential race.

FOMC Meeting: December 17 – 18

The final FOMC meeting of the year. At this date, the Fed will have a clear picture of how markets have reacted to the election outcome and what policies they can expect the new President to target following their inauguration. The Fed may also indicate future rate decisions based on who was confirmed by the electoral college on December 17.

Certification of the 2024 Presidential Election by Congress: January 6

The US Congress is set to certify the Presidential Election results on January 6 in a joint session of Congress, where the President of the Senate will announce the official Electoral College vote count. This step is a formality that finalizes the election outcome.

Inauguration Day: January 20

The newly elected President and Vice President of the United States will take the Oath of Office on January 20 and officially begin their term in office. The ceremony takes place at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., and is followed by the Inaugural Parade and various events throughout the day.