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Key dates in 2020 US presidential race
WASHINGTON, Oct 31, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – While the 2020 US presidential contest is already in full swing, an entire year of coast-to-coast campaigning still lies ahead.
The process only accelerates from here, with more than a dozen Democratic candidates jostling for position as voters in Iowa prepare to cast the first ballots of the nomination race in February.
Here are the key dates in the election process:
– November 20, 2019: Democratic debate –
The fifth nationally televised debate of the primary cycle will feature at least nine Democrats vying for their party’s nomination. A sixth debate is set for December 19, and six more Democratic debates will follow in 2020.
– February 3, 2020: Iowa caucuses –
Voters in the heartland state of Iowa are the first to cast their ballots for the Democratic nominee, a night that will see one or two candidates shine, and could lead poor performers to end their campaigns.
– February 11-29: More early states vote –
Three more states go to the polls — New Hampshire on February 11, Nevada February 22 and South Carolina on the 29th — rounding out the traditional four-state early voting kickoff. The nominations battle is sure to narrow here.
– March 3: Super Tuesday –
This decisive American voting day could distinctly shape the Democratic race, with several million voters in 15 states — including the two most populous, California and Texas — and one territory casting ballots.
– July 13-16: Democratic National Convention –
After a grueling campaign featuring the most diverse presidential field ever, the opposition party holds its four-day convention where delegates from all 50 states vote to officially confirm the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
– August 24-27: Republican National Convention –
With the Republican Party already announcing its backing for Trump, it is expected that the president — barring his unlikely ouster from office following the ongoing impeachment investigation — will be nominated once again by the gathered delegates.
– September 29: First presidential debate –
Trump squares off against his Democratic challenger in the first presidential debate, to take place at Indiana’s University of Notre Dame, followed by two more debates in October, and a vice presidential debate on October 7.
– November 3: Election Day –
Americans nationwide troop to the polls, either to reward the president with four more years in office, or elect a Democrat to replace him.
BSS/AFP/MMA/0837HRS