Final answer:
Primary elections for presidential candidates are delegate-selection processes where party members vote for their preferred candidate, who, if successful, receives delegates to represent voter preferences at the party's convention. These primaries can be closed or open and play a crucial role in the nomination process, impacting campaign strategies and the longevity of a candidate's campaign.
Step-by-step explanation:
Overview of Primary Elections in Presidential Races
Primary elections for presidential candidates are typically delegate-selection primaries. These are stages in the election cycle where individuals compete to become their party's nominee. The primaries enable party members to vote using a ballot to express their preference for a candidate. Delegates are then selected based on the primary results to represent local and state voters at the state or national conventions. This process may involve closed or open primaries, which determine who is eligible to vote based on party affiliation.Primary elections serve as a way to assess the candidates' popular appeal and their ability to mobilize grassroots support. The distribution of delegates can either be winner-take-all or proportionate to the votes each candidate receives. The timing and order of these elections, such as the early Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, can significantly impact the presidential race.
The evolution of the presidential nominating process has led to longer campaign seasons and greater opportunities for outsider candidates to challenge establishment figures, as seen in the primaries and caucuses that now largely determine the party nominee.