StatePrimary

StatePrimary is a label used in election data systems and political data modeling to denote the primary election state associated with a record. It is typically stored as a code or short string (for example, a two-letter USPS state code or ISO code) and serves to identify the jurisdiction in which a primary event occurs.

In practice, statePrimary appears as a field in datasets that track candidate results, primary schedules, or polling information. It can function as a foreign key to a States dimension table in a relational database, or as an attribute in flat files like JSON or CSV. Because primary election practices and data schemas vary, statePrimary is often part of a broader data model that distinguishes electoral events by jurisdiction.

There is no universal standard for the exact interpretation of statePrimary across all systems, so its meaning may differ. In some datasets, it identifies the state whose primary results are being reported; in others, it labels the state that holds a given set of primaries in a multi-state cycle, or the state used to initiate a primary contest. Data dictionaries typically clarify its scope and usage within a given dataset or API.

Examples might include a record of primary results with statePrimary: "CA" or a scheduling feed with statePrimary: "TX" to indicate the Texas primary is upcoming. In GIS or tabular data, the field may align with standard state codes, such as USPS abbreviations, ISO codes, or FIPS codes, depending on the data source.

See also: Primary election, Caucus, Election data model, State code, USPS state abbreviation.