was one of 14 states that held its primaries on March 3, 2020, also known as "Super Tuesday", having joined other states on the date after the signing of the Prime Time Primary Act by Governor Jerry Brown on September 27, 2017, in an effort to increase the influence of the delegate-rich state in the nomination process. Candidates may obtain ballot access in a number of ways. They must have.:
appeared as a candidate in a national presidential debate hosted by a political party qualified to participate in a primary election, with at least two participating candidates, and publicly available for viewing by voters in more than one state during the current presidential election cycle. A “political party qualified to participate in a primary election” means any political party qualified in California, a major or minor-ballot qualified political party in another state, or a national committee of a political party recognized by the Federal Election Commission
placed or qualified for placement on a presidential primary ballot or a caucus ballot of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle
candidate or qualified to be a candidate in a caucus of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle
has the following: current presidential campaign internet website or webpage hosted by the candidate or a qualified political party, and a written request submitted on the candidate's behalf by a party qualified to participate in the primary election to the Secretary of State requesting the candidate be placed on the presidential primary ballot."
If they do not have at least one of those qualifications, they may submit petitions of 500 signatures from each of the state's congressional districts obtained from November 4 to December 13, 2019. The official list of qualified candidates was released on December 6, 2019. Unqualified candidates were required to submit their petitions by this date. Military and overseas mail-in ballots were sent out on January 3, 2020, and domestic mail-in ballots were requested and sent out from February 3 to February 25. Early voting centers opened for business on February 22 and will continue until March 3. Election day voting took place throughout the state from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. In the semi-closed primary, candidates must meet a threshold of 15 percent at the congressional district or statewide level in order to be considered viable. The 415 pledged delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention will be allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of the 415 pledged delegates, between 4 and 7 are allocated to each of the state's 53 congressional districts, and another 54 are allocated to party leaders and elected officials, in addition to 90 at-large pledged delegates. Following the primary, district-level delegates to the national convention will be elected on April 19, 2020, in the post-primary caucus. Should presidential candidates be allocated more delegates based on the results of the primary than delegate candidates presented, then supplemental delegates will be elected at caucuses on May 9, 2020. The national convention delegation meeting will subsequently be held on May 17, 2020, to vote on the 54 pledged PLEO and 90 at-large delegates to send to the Democratic National Convention. The 415 pledged delegates California sends to the national convention will be joined by 79 un-pledged superdelegates.
Candidates
The following candidates appear in the Certified List of Statewide Candidates: Running
