Campaign
2016 - A Timetable Major milestones in the battle for the Presidency. Click here for the latest polls. |
||
X |
||
Date | Event |
|
4.5.16 |
Wisconsin primaries |
A great night for the challengers as Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Ted Cruz easily crushed their rivals. While good for morale, the results did not signifcantly change the delegate math favoring Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. |
3.26.16 |
Western Saturday |
A good night for Bernie Sanders, as he wins caucuses in Alaska, Washington and Hawaii and makes a modest gain on Hillary Clinton's delegate lead. |
3.22.16 |
Western Tuesday |
Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz both won their party's primary in Idaho and caucuses in Utah, but Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won the big prize of the night, Arizona and expanded their lead in the delegate race. |
3.15.16 |
Super Tuesday 3, Rubio bows out |
Big nights for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Trump won primaries in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri. Governor John Kasich denied Trump a sweep by winning his home state of Ohio. Sen. Ted Cruz
won no states, but picked up some delegates. Kasich's win had some
observers questioning whether Trump could clinch the nomination before
the GOP conventions. Losing his home state proved to much for Sen. Mario Rubio, who suspended his campaign. Clinton won a clean sweep of the five states, extending her lead in the delegate count over Bernie Sanders. After Clinton's big night, some Democrats began pressuring Sanders to quit the race. However, he vowed to continue his fight. |
3.08.16 |
Super Tuesday 2 |
GOP results: Donald Trump
wins Hawaii (caucus), Michigan (primary) and Mississippi (primary). Ted
Cruz wins Idaho (primary). Four days later (3/12), Cruz would win the
Idaho caucus and Mario Rubio would win the District of Columbia caucus. Bernie Sanders shocks Hillary Clinton and the pollsters by winning the Michigan primary. Clinton claimed a win in Mississippi. |
3.05.16 |
Super Saturday |
Donald Trump takes two states (Kentucky and Louisiana) and Sen. Ted Cruz takes two (Kansas and Maine). Among Democrats, Bernie Sanders won two states, Kansas and Nebraska, and Hillary Clinton won Louisiana. |
3.01.16 |
Super Tuesday |
Donald Trump takes seven states (Ala., Ark., Ga., Mass., Tenn., Vt. and Virginia. Sen. Ted Cruz takes three states (Alaska, Okla. and Texas). Marco Rubio wins Minnesota. Among the Democrats, Hillary Clinton won seven states (Ala., Ark., Ga., Mass., Tenn., Texas and Va) and Bernie Sanders won four (Colo., Minn., Okla. and Vt.). |
2.24.16 |
Nevada caucases (R) |
Donald Trump sweeps to an easy victory, with Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz running a distant second and third, respectively. |
2.20.16 |
South Carolina primary (R) & Nevada caucases (D) |
Donald Trump wins South Carolina with 32.5 percent of the vote. Sen. Marco Rubio narrowly took second place over Sen. Ted Cruz. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush finished fourth and suspended his camapaign. In Nevada, former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton won the caucuses with 52.7 percent of the vote. |
2.13.16 |
A Supreme Court vacancy |
Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,
the longest serving member of the court and the conservative
cornerstone of a 5-4 majority, dies in his sleep at a Texas hunting
ranch. Immediately, the issue over who will replace Scalia became the
focus of the race. President Obama said he will nominate at an
appropriate time. Republicans say he should leave that choice to the
next president. |
2.9.16 |
New Hampshire primary |
Donald Trump wins the GOP primary with 35.3 percent of the vote. Former Ohio Governor John Kasich takes second with 15.8 percent of the vote, followed by Senator Ted Cruz, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio's finish is attributed to a poor debate performance. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore and business executive Carly Florina suspend their campaigns. Among the Democrats, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders swamps former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with 60.4 - 38.0 percent of the vote. |
2.1.16 |
Iowa caucases, O'Malley drops out |
Senator Ted Cruz
wins on the GOP side, surprising Donald Trump. Senator Marco Rubio
finishes a strong third behind Senator Ted Cruz. Former Governor Mike Huckabee suspends his
campaign. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton narrowly
wins among the Democrats - despite the fact that Senator Bernie Sanders
may have collected more votes. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
suspends his campaign. |
12.30.15 |
Pataki out |
Seven months and two days after entering the race, former New York Governor George Pataki drops out. |
12.21.15 |
Lindsey Graham out |
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham suspends his campaign. |
11.17.15 |
Jindall drops out |
Saying that "it wasn't my time, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindall ended
his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Jindall's poll
numbers barely registered and his long-shot odds of winning kept
getting longer. |
10.22.15 |
Chafee drops out |
Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee withdrew
from the race for the democratic nomination. His candidacy never gained
traction, rarely garnering more than 1 percent in opinion polls. |
10.22.15 |
Hillary Grillaried |
From Politico: "Hillary Clinton rarely stumbled
during Thursday's marathon House Select Committee on Benghazi hearing,
but as the session wore on, some of the Democratic presidential
candidate's comments about her private email setup mangled the facts
and fueled lingering questions about how her team decided which
messages to turn over to her former agency." The former secretary of
state was grilled by the republican-led panel for more than 11 hours.
Democrats and republicans in the committee clashed, with democrats
saying politics were behind the hearing. Republicans said they just
want to know the truth. |
10.21.15 |
Joe no go |
After months of speculation and soul-searching, Vice President Joe Biden announced
that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for President. Biden,
still in mourning over the dead of his son, said he had run out of time
to make a bid for the White House. |
10.20.15 |
Webb drops out |
Jim Webb, the politician and not the songwriter, withdrew from the race for the Deocratic presidential nomination. However, he left open the possibility of a third-party bid. |
10.13.15 |
The First Democratic Debate |
The Democrats held their first televised debate. Polling suggest that Hillary Clinton was the winner. But, in reality, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs of NCIS stole the night. |
9.21.15 |
Once a frontrunner, now a dropout |
Once consider among the GOP frontrunners, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker suspended his campaign for the presidency. He urged others in the crowded field to step off the stage so the more legitimate contenders can take clear aim at Donald Trump. |
9.16.15 |
Trump take lumps in the second debate |
Donald Trump was both center
stage and the main target during a three-hour debate hosted by CNN.
This debate featured 11 candidates with the addition of the only woman
seeking the GOP nomination, Carly Florina. The consensus of pundit opinions was that it was Carly's night - and a bad night for Trump. Bush and Walker may have helped themselves, but not as much as they would have liked. |
9.11.15 |
The First Dropout |
Lagging in the polls and running out of money, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry suspended his campaign for the GOP nomination. |
8.6.15 |
The First Republican Debate |
Fox News and Facebook hosted a prime-time debate among the 10 Republican candidates highest in the polls. John Kasich edged out Rick Perry for the 10th an final spot. The remaining seven candidates debated before the main event. Donald Trump,
leading the the polls, refused to say he would support the GOP nominee
if it isn't him. After the debate, Trump complained that he had been
treated unfairly
and even suggested that moderator Megyn Kelly was menstruating during
the debate. Several candidates demanded an apology from Trump. He said
Kelly should apologize to him. |
7.30.15 |
Room for another? |
Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore becomes the 17th GOP candidate for President. |
7.21.15 |
Kasich makes it a Sweet 16 |
Ohio governor and former congressman John Kasich announced his candidacy for the republican presidential nomination in an event at his alma mater, Ohio State University. |
7.18.15 |
Trump inserts foot into mouth |
At at campaign event in Iowa, Donald Trump first says Sen. John McCain
"is not a hero." When pressed, Trump says McCain is a hero "because he
got captured. I like people who don't get captured." McCain was a
prisoner of war and was tortured by the North Vietnamese after his
fighter jet was shot down over Hanoi in 1967. The statement causes an
uproar, but Trump remained defiant - partly because national polls show
him leading the republican field. However, Trump receives criticism
from other candidates, verterans' group and newspaper editorials. The Des Moines Register calls trump a "feckless blowhard." Senator Lindsey Graham calls Trump "a jackass." |
7.13.15 |
Scott Walker makes it 15 |
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, considered one of the front-runners for the Republican nomination, announces
his candidacy for President. Early polls show him the
front-runner in Iowa, the first caucas. There are now 19 announced
candidates, 15 in the GOP and four Democrats. |
7.2.15 |
Jim Webb announces |
Former
U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-Va.) becomes the fifth Democrat to announce
his candidacy for president. As reported by CNN, Webb wrote in a blog
that he decided to run because the United States needs "proven,
experienced leadership that can be trusted to move us forward from a
new President's first days in office." Highlighting his experience as a
senator, decorated soldier and and secretary of the navy under Ronald
Reagan, Webb cast himself as someone willing to fight on issues he
cares about, including criminal justice reform, education and economic
fairness. |
6.30.15 |
A "Big" Announcement |
New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie becomes the 14th republican in the race for the
presidency. Once considered a leading contender, Christie is now
considered a longshot because of politically inspired traffic snarls at
the George Washington Bridge. Christie said he's a "straight-talker" that doesn't pull any punches. |
6.24.15 |
Bobby Jindal makes it a baker's dozen |
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindall
becomes the 13th candidate for the republican presidential nomination.
He made his announcement online and is considered a long-shot. |
6.16.15 |
"The Donald" makes it a dozen |
Donald Trump says he's rich...and running for president. And he managed to piss off Mexico in the process. |
6.15.15 |
Jeb...at last |
After months of speculation -
and teasing - former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced his candidacy for
President. If successful, he would become the third Bush to hold
the job. According to CNN,
"Bush made his formal announcement Monday afternoon here in his adopted
hometown during an appearance at Miami Dade College. His candidacy
comes after a week-long European tour and months of intensive
behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that erased long-standing
doubts about his White House ambitions." |
6.4.15 |
A second run for Rick Perry |
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry throws his hat into the ring
- despite the fact that he is under indictment for an improper use of
power while in office. His offense: Withholding funding for the
courts when a justice accused of DUI refused Perry's demand that she
resign. Perry becomes the 10th Republican candidate for president - with more expected. |
6.3.15 |
Chafee makes it four |
Former
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee becomes the fourth democrat in the
race for the presidential nomination. According to Politico, Chafee's top issue is Hillary Clinton's vote in favor of the war against Iraq. |
6.1.15 |
Senator Lindsey Graham enters the GOP field |
Sen.
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced that he is running for president
because "the world is falling apart" and that he has the foreign policy
experience to deal with complex global issues. Graham recently retired from the Air Force reserve after serving 30 years. He had reached the mandatory retirement age of 60.
According to CNN, "He currently chairs three military, foreign policy
and terrorism-related Senate subcommittees, has served on three others
in the past, and has sponsored dozens of bills on foreign policy.
Graham has also, by his own count, traveled to two dozen countries on
official business and met with the leaders of many of them." |
6.1.15 |
The Patriot Act expires after Rand Paul blocks Senate passage |
From CNN:
"The U.S. government on Monday found itself with fewer tools to
investigate terrorism -- at least temporarily -- after the Senate let
provisions of the Patriot Act expire Sunday night. While officials
warned of national security risks, it is clear that the lapse will not
come close to debilitating counter terrorism efforts. The Senate entered
a debate period late Sunday on the Patriot Act that pushed beyond the
midnight deadline, effectively ending three provisions of that law,
including the National Security Agency's bulk data collection program.
The lapse was a huge victory for privacy hawks who have called for
changes to that program and others under the Patriot Act since Edward
Snowden first blew the lid off the NSA's domestic surveillance programs
in 2013." A watered-down version - without meta data collection - was passed and signed into law within 72 hours. |
5.30.15 |
Martin O'Malley throws his hat into the ring |
The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
According to CNN, Martin O'Malley took a shot at Hillary Clinton: "Recently,
the CEO of Goldman Sachs let his employees know that he'd be just fine
with either Bush or Clinton. I bet he would," O'Malley said. "Well,
I've got news for the bullies of Wall Street: The presidency is not a
crown to be passed back and forth by you between two royal families. It
is a sacred trust to be earned from the people of the United States,
and exercised on behalf of the people of the United States." |
5.28.15 |
Long shot Pataki announces |
Pledging "people over politics," former New York Governor George Pataki announced his presidential candidacy in a YouTube video.
According to Politico, "The video also features iconic images from
American history, including the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima, the first
moon landing and the two towers of light representing the World Trade
Center that rose over lower Manhattan in the years after the 9/11
attacks." |
5.27.15 |
Santorum becomes the seventh GOP candidate |
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa) launched his second bid for the White House. Politico says Santorum faces longer odds than he did four years ago when he was the runner-up to eventual nominee Mitt Romney. |
5.5.15 |
Huckabee "Hopes" |
Former Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential
nomination in Hope, Arkansas - a hometown he shares with the 42nd
president, Bill Clinton. The former Fox News commentator made his announcement by stressing his humble roots and traditional values. |
5.4.15 |
A pair of long shots enter the race |
Carly Florina, former HP
executive an unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate, becomes the first
woman in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. As Politico
notes, Florina seeks to provide a sharp contrast to the other woman in
the race, Hillary Clinton. Dr. Ben Carson also announced his candidacy
in his hometown Detroit. |
4.29.15 |
Hillary gets a challenge from the far left |
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweets an announcement
of his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. The 73-year old
self-described socialist and longest-serving Independent in the Senate,
says he will run "outside the two-party system." |
4.27.15 |
Baltimore erupts over police shooting |
The death of Freddie Gray in
Baltimore police custody sparks a week of violent protests and results
in five days of overnight curfews. He also reenergizes the debate over
the use of force by police against minorities. It also cast a
cloud over the expected candidacy of former Baltimore Mayor and
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. |
4.13.15 |
Rubio announces |
Saying that "it is time for our generation to lead," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced
his candidacy for President. The 43-year son of a Cuban immigrant,
Rubio contrasted himself with Hillary Clinton, who he said would "lead
us into yesterday." |
4.12.15 |
Hillary joins the fray |
Washington Post:
"Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the presidential race Sunday, saying
she wants to fight for the economic futures of regular people and
ending years of speculation about whether she would redeem the
disappointment of her failed 2008 attempt to become the country’s first
female commander in chief." The former First Lady/Senator/Secretary of State used social media to make her official announcement. |
4.7.15 |
A libertarian joins the battle |
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
officially launches his presidential campaign at a rally in Louisville.
In an message aimed at both Washington and his fellow Republicans, Paul
declared "we have come to take our country back." |
3.23.15 |
The first official announcement |
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.)
becomes the first candidate to officially announce his candidacy for
president. He makes his announcement at Liberty University in
Lynchburg, Virginia. The conservative Christian university was founded
by the late Jerry Falwell. |
Home |