Primaries

It's the beginning of the 2016 election cycle. Candidates are getting into the race and their supporters believe they have a chance at the nomination. Commentators set the stage for 2016 and the campaigns that lie ahead. After months of appearances in the first caucus state of Iowa, new Senator Joni Ernst hosts a kick-off event in June 2015 attended by 6 GOP hopefuls.

It’s the New Hampshire Primary in mid-February and a Republican battle for second place. Kasich, Christie, Rubio, Bush and Cruz focus on a strong showing in the Granite State. In the home stretch, Cruz seeks a surprise showing to build on his Iowa win and Christie destroys Rubio in the last New Hampshire debate. It’s mano e mano between Clinton and Sanders, but New Hampshire is all his.

Commentators set the stage in the thick of the primary season: South Carolina is a must-win for Jeb, and Nevada and South Carolina are important races for Clinton. Judge Scalia dies and the GOP vows to keep Obama from choosing a replacement. Democratic supporters get heated in Nevada and Hillary Clinton lands a decisive win. Cruz hopes to rally Christian conservatives in South Carolina.

It’s the final push of the primary season, with multiple elections taking place across the country. Kasich has the chance to defeat Trump in his home state of Ohio and he succeeds. Rubio tries to beat Trump at his own game of name-calling, and can’t deliver. Then Cruz takes on Trump in Wisconsin and wins, raising the question of whether Trump will make it to the GOP convention in Cleveland.

One month after Clinton was declared the winner of California and the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Sanders joins her at a rally and announces his endorsement. Vice presidents are chosen for each ticket; Trump selects Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Clinton chooses Tim Kaine, a Senator from Virginia.