365 days and counting
What to expect in the coming months as the presidential election draws closer.
WASHINGTON – We are officially one year away.
Sunday marked 365 days until the 2020 election, which will be held Nov. 3. While it may seem to some like the election has been rolling on for an eternity, crunch time for presidential candidates is right around the corner.
Over the next several months, voters will see the Democratic field continue to narrow as candidates struggle to make the debate stage, fall short in the early primary states or simply run out of cash to make a deep run.
The winnowing has already started – with former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke the most recent candidate to end his campaign – and it likely will continue in earnest over the next few months and following the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses Feb. 3.
Here’s what you need to watch for in the coming months:
Who is still running?
After a record 27 Democrats jumped into the presidential race, the field of major candidates has narrowed to 17. That number will continue to drop as debate qualifications get harder and the first primaries and caucuses approach.
The current candidates are:
❚ Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet
❚ Former Vice President Joe Biden
❚ New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker
❚ Montana Gov. Steve Bullock
❚ South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg
❚ Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro
❚ Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney
❚ Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
❚ California Sen. Kamala Harris
❚ Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar
❚ Miramar, Florida, Mayor Wayne Messam
❚ Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
❚ Former Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak
❚ Billionaire Tom Steyer
❚ Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
❚ Author Marianne Williamson
❚ Entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
On the Republican side, President Donald Trump is facing three primary opponents in his reelection bid: former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.
Trump’s three primary opponents have an uphill battle. The president has the support of the Republican National Committee and a deep bench of support among vocal members of Congress. And while he does have detractors on the right, he still maintains a majority approval rating among Republicans.
Key dates of the election
One of the most important dates of the primary season is Feb. 3 – the day of the Iowa caucuses. It kicks off the primary season voting, but it also could be the day a number of candidates determine whether to call it quits or stay in the race.
The Iowa caucuses can show if a campaign is slumping or surging, or if a candidate exceeds expectations. A candidate’s showing in Iowa can bring positive media and donor attention. But a poor showing, or not meeting expectations, can bring with it negative media coverage and a dry spigot of fundraising dollars.
Candidates will look to harness their Iowa momentum into the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 11. Like the caucuses, the New Hampshire primary often continues to winnow the field.
The Nevada caucuses are up next, on Feb. 22. It is the first early state that is home to a large Latino population, a growing voter bloc that will be crucial in the 2020 election.
The last early voting state is South Carolina, and its Democratic primary is Feb. 29. The first-in-the-South primary usually showcases where presidential hopefuls stand with black voters, who made up more than 60% of the Democratic primary electorate in 2016, according to PBS Newshour.
Super Tuesday is March 3, when at least 14 states have their primaries and 40% of the total number of delegates are up for grabs.
The primary elections continue until June.
The Democratic National Committee hosts its convention July 13-16 in Milwaukee, where the party will officially nominate a presidential candidate for the general election. The Republican National Committee hosts its convention in Charlotte Aug. 24-27.
Other things to watch for in 2020
The presidential election isn’t the only thing voters will need to cast a ballot for on Nov. 3, 2020.
Key House and Senate races across the country will be in play to determine who has control of each chamber in Congress.
There are 25 House seats up for election in 2020 that are considered toss-ups, according to 270towin.com, meaning basically a Republican and Democrat are equally likely to take the seat. Democrats currently hold a 37seat majority in the House and are looking to play both offense and defense to maintain control of the chamber.
In the Senate, Republicans hold the majority. So far 35 Senate seats are up for election in 2020, with 23 seats being defended on the Republican side. Democrats are hoping to peel off a few of those seats, but many are safely Republican. Senate races in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina and Maine are considered among the most pivotal in 2020.