The following is a timeline of major events leading up to, during, and after the 2016 United States presidential election. The election was the 58th quadrennial United States presidential election, held on November 8, 2016. The presidential primaries and caucuses were held between February 1 and June 14, 2016, staggered among the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. The U.S. Congress certified the electoral result on January 6, 2017, and the new president and vice president were inaugurated on January 20, 2017.
2014 November 2014 November 20 – Jim Webb, former US Senator from Virginia, forms an exploratory committee for a possible run for president
December 2014 December 16 – Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announces the formation of a political action committee (PAC) for a possible run for president
2015 January 2015 January 26 – Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey, forms a PAC in preparation for a possible run for president January 27 – Martin O'Malley, former Governor of Maryland, forms a PAC in preparation for a possible run for president January 29 – Lindsey Graham, United States Senator from South Carolina, forms an exploratory committee in preparation for a possible run for president January 30 – Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, declines to run in the 2016 election after considering it
February 2015 February 9 – George Pataki, former Governor of New York, forms a PAC in preparation for a possible run for president
March 2015 March 2 – Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, forms an exploratory committee in preparation for a possible run for president March 5 – Mark Everson, former Commissioner of Internal Revenue, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party March 18 – Donald Trump, CEO of The Trump Organization since 1971, forms an exploratory committee in preparation for a possible run for president on the Republican Party ticket March 23 – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party
April 2015 April 7 – U.S. Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party April 9 Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee announces the formation of an exploratory committee for a possible run for president Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania forms a "testing the waters" account for a possible run for president April 12 – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally announces her candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party April 13 – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party April 30 – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party
May 2015 May 4 Former business executive Carly Fiorina, of California officially declares her candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, of Maryland, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party May 5 – Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party May 27 – Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party May 28 – Former Governor of New York George Pataki officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party May 30 – Former Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party May 31 – US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts confirms she will not be running for president
June 2015 June 1 – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican PartyJaffe, Alexandra (June 1, 2015) "Graham bets on foreign experience in White House bid announcement", CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2015 June 3 – Former Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party June 4 – Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party June 15 – Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party June 16 – Business magnate Donald Trump, of New York, officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party June 22 – Massachusetts physician Jill Stein officially declares her candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Green Party June 24 – Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party June 30 – Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie officially declares his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party
July 2015 July 2 – Former U.S. Senator Jim Webb, of Virginia, formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party July 13 – Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party July 21 – Governor of Ohio John Kasich officially announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party July 30 – Former Governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party
August 2015 August 3 – First presidential forum, featuring 14 Republican candidates, was broadcast on C-SPAN from the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Goffstown, New Hampshire August 4 – Fox News announced which 10 candidates were invited to the first official Republican debate August 6 – First official presidential debate, featuring 10 Republican candidates, is held in Cleveland, Ohio Fox News includes the other seven Republican candidates in a separate debate held earlier on the same day August 11 – Lawrence Lessig forms an exploratory committee for a possible run for president, stating that if he raised $1 million by Labor Day he would run August 16 – Andy Martin formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party August 22 – Jimmy McMillan formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party
September 2015 September 6 – Lawrence Lessig, Harvard University law professor, formally announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination September 8 – John McAfee, antivirus software developer, formally announces his candidacy for president under the banner of the newly formed Cyber Party September 11 – Rick Perry formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination September 16 – Second Republican debate is held in Simi Valley, California September 21 – Scott Walker formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination September 30 – South Carolina finalizes ballot for primary; 15 Republican candidates qualify
October 2015 October 13 – First Democratic debate is held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Wynn Casino October 16 – Lawrence Lessig announces he is dropping his much-derided promise to resign after passing his signature legislation. He stated he would to serve a full term as president and would flesh out his policy agenda accordingly October 20 – Jim Webb formally withdraws his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination October 21 – Vice President Joe Biden announces that he will not run for president in 2016 October 23 – Lincoln Chafee formally withdraws his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nominationMerica, Dan; LoBianco, Tom (October 23, 2015) "Lincoln Chafee drops out of Democratic primary race", CNN.com. Retrieved October 23, 2015 October 28 – Third Republican debate is held in Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorado
November 2015 November 2 – Lawrence Lessig formally withdraws his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination November 4–20 – Candidate registration for New Hampshire primary November 5 – Mark Everson formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination November 6 Deadline for filing for the Alabama primary First in the South Democratic Forum featuring Martin O'Malley, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton is broadcast on MSNBC from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina November 9 – Deadline for filing for the Arkansas primary November 10 – Fourth Republican debate is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin November 13–14 – Republican Party of Florida's Sunshine Summit event is held in Orlando, Florida November 14 – Second Democratic debate is held in Des Moines, Iowa November 17 – Bobby Jindal formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination November 20 – The Presidential Family Forum is held in Des Moines, Iowa November 24 – MoveOn.org Democratic forum featuring Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders
December 2015 December 3 – The Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Candidates Forum is held in Washington, D.C. December 9 – Jimmy McMillan formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination December 15 – Fifth Republican debate is held in Las Vegas, Nevada December 19 – Third Democratic debate is held in Manchester, New Hampshire December 21 – Lindsey Graham formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination December 24 – John McAfee, antivirus software developer, formally announces his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination December 29 – George Pataki formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination
2016 January 2016 January 6 – Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson formally announces his candidacy for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party January 9 – The Republicans' Kemp Forum is held in Columbia, South Carolina January 11 – Third Democratic forum is held in Des Moines, Iowa January 14 – The sixth Republican debate is held in North Charleston, South Carolina January 17 – The fourth Democratic debate is held in Charleston, South Carolina January 25 – A Democratic forum, a town hall event, is held in Des Moines, Iowa January 28 – Seventh Republican debate is held in Des Moines, Iowa
February 2016 February 1 The Iowa Democratic caucus is won by Hillary Clinton The Iowa Republican caucus is won by Ted Cruz Martin O'Malley formally withdraws his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination Mike Huckabee formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination February 3 Rand Paul formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination Rick Santorum formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination A Democratic Town Hall forum event is held in Derry, New Hampshire February 4 – Fifth Democratic debate is held in Durham, New Hampshire February 6 – Eighth Republican debate is held in Manchester, New Hampshire February 9 The New Hampshire Republican primary is won by Donald Trump The New Hampshire Democratic primary is won by Bernie Sanders February 10 Chris Christie formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination Carly Fiorina formally withdraws her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination February 11 – Sixth Democratic debate is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 12 – Jim Gilmore formally withdraws his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination February 13 – Ninth Republican debate is held in Charleston, South Carolina