In the early 19th century, presidential candidates were largely decided by party-based congressional nominating caucuses. Party nominating conventions were created after the 1824 election, when no candidate was able to receive the majority of electoral votes. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky was the first candidate to win the presidential nomination of his political party when his party, the National Republicans, conducted the first major national political convention in December 1931.
Throughout the primary elections, voters decide between multiple presidential candidates as they cast their ballots. After a state's primary vote, each candidate is awarded a number of delegates. Those delegates then typically cast official votes for the candidate at the convention.
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