Lollipop chart showing the number of days before Election Day each party's presidential nomination was secured, excluding incumbents who didn't face significant primary challengers. In the 2024 election cycle, Trump secured the Republican nomination 244 days before Election Day 2024. McCain secured the Republican nomination in 2008 245 days before the election and John Kerry secured the Democratic nomination in 2004 244 days before the election. In 2000, both Al Gore and George W. Bush secured their parties' nominations 243 days before the election.