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 (with numerous soon-to-be-candidates on both sides stumping for candidates), new Senator Joni Ernst hosts a kick-off event in June 2015 attended by 6 GOP hopefuls. Then Trump comes to town with more audience, more media and the possibility of a real campaign. But could there be a fight on the Democratic side? Bernie’s drawing big crowds out West. Then a big Democratic event occurs with all of the candidates in Storm Lake: It's Clinton’s coming out party in Iowa. In July, candidates press the flesh and practice their retail politics at the The Iowa State Fair, and the Republican field loses three candidates when Walker, Perry and Jindal drop out in September 2015.

It's the fall of 2015 and only a few months remain before the first contest of the cycle -- the Iowa Caucus. Interviewees set the stakes for each campaign – Trump is maintaining a lead as Carson, Rubio and Cruz look to challenge. The FAMiLY Leader Thanksgiving summit displays numerous GOP candidates looking to secure FAMiLY Leader President Bob Vander Plaats’ endorsement. Vander Plaats endorses Cruz and Cruz begins his first big Iowa bus tour as he starts to gain momentum in state and nationally. Meanwhile for the Democrats, it’s a tight race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, with Sanders finding unexpected momentum in the home stretch. On caucus night, the Iowa sites are overwhelmed and tempers flare, but Hillary squeaks through with the win, and Martin O’Malley drops out. It's the final stretch as Rubio, Cruz and Trump all make a push, and Trump makes a late, unforced error by skipping the big Iowa debate. On Caucus night, Bob Vander Plaats speaks for Cruz, Sam Clovis stumps for Trump, but it’s Cruz who wins. Huckabee, Paul, and Santorum drop out in early February.

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, despite her improvement on the stump. As votes are collected and tabulated in the small precincts of New Hampshire, Kasich starts to feel some momentum, but on Primary night Trump dominates, leaving a second place finish for Kasich. At the end of New Hampshire, Rubio is chastened and Christie and Fiorina drop out. The Never Trump movement begins in earnest, but the results remain to be seen.

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, but Trump destroys the field. In South Carolina Rubio is endorsed by the popular governor Nikki Haley, delivering another blow to Jeb Bush. Rubio is able to hold onto second place as Cruz’s finish in third resets expectations. Hillary crushes in South Carolina, raising questions as to whether the Democrats’ diverse base can be drawn to Sanders. Trump riles up the crowd in Nevada, where economically challenged supporters lift him to his biggest win yet. It’s Super Tuesday and Cruz has new life, bringing home his state of Texas. Rubio is on the ropes and Jeb Bush drops out of the race. Clinton sweeps the South, but Sanders starts to fight back on the debate stage. Trump maintains pole position.

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 quite 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 with the necessary delegates. Hillary wins a lot of important contests (Ohio, Illinois, New York), but Bernie isn’t going anywhere and his followers are convinced he’s going to go the distance, no matter what obstacles. The GOP race comes down to the Indiana primary and it’s Cruz’s last stand. He makes the unexpected move of naming Carly Fiorina as his Vice President -- a final attempt to secure his name on the Republican ticket. Despite Cruz’s efforts, Trump wins Indiana -- effectively locking up the nomination, leaving Cruz and Kasich to bow out of the race. Clinton decisively wins California and Sanders’ vows to continue his fight in Philadelphia at the Democratic National Convention.

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.The Libertarians hold their convention in Orlando, and spirited character-driven debate ensues. The Libertarians ultimately nominate Gary Johnson, the formerly Republican governor of New Mexico, and he works to draw supporters from Clinton and Trump. The Republican National Convention opens in August with the notable absence of many GOP figureheads. Despite expected protests in Cleveland, the convention center emerges as the center of conflict when Ted Cruz refuses to endorse Trump. One week later, at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Sander’s supporters take to the streets. A cloud hangs over the convention, fueled by a DNC email hack that confirms a Clinton bias--one that Sanders’ supporters always feared. The Bernie or Bust movement breaks down as Sanders throws his support behind Clinton and she accepts the Democratic nomination.