Admit it — even the most hardcore political junkies, the ones who have watched every debate and stayed up late on every primary night, are ready for primary season to be over.
Soon, it will be.
For Democrats, the following states still have to vote: Washington (non-binding primary) on May 24. Virgin Islands (12 delegates) on June 4. Puerto Rico (67 delegates) on June 5. California (548 delegates), Montana (27 delegates), New Jersey (142 delegates), New Mexico (43 delegates), North Dakota (23 delegates), and South Dakota (25 delegates) on June 7. And, finally, Washington, DC (46 delegates) on June 14.
On the GOP side, here’s what is left: Washington (44 delegates) on May 24. California (172 delegates), Montana (27 delegates), New Jersey (51 delegates), New Mexico (24 delegates), and South Dakota (29 delegates) on June 7.
That’s it.
Bernie Sanders may keep his campaign going after the final Democratic contests even if he is trailing in pledged delegates, trying to win the votes of the much-maligned Democratic superdelegates — party insiders who are not bound to vote for the candidate who won their home state, but can vote for whomever they choose. Hillary Clinton has a big lead in superdelegates.
After that, focus will likely turn to the general election and the official party nominating conventions: The Republican National Convention from July 18-21 in Cleveland, and the Democratic National Convention from July 25-28 in Philadelphia.
Both of these figure to be more feisty affairs than the usual conventions, with anti-Donald Trump Republicans and pro-Bernie Sanders Democrats figuring to cause at least a bit of a ruckus.