The United States will elect its 45th President on November 8, 2016. The first candidate announced his decision to run in March of 2015, more than 20 months before the actual election. Since then, three others have thrown their hats into the ring and news sources saw that there are 14 others who are likely to enter the Presidential race.
Currently there are three Republican candidates, all of whom are United States Senators: Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Marco Rubio of Florida. Former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, is also expected to enter the race soon and another nine politicians are exploring the idea of running as well. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is the only one to declare so far; though there are four other men considering their options. Primaries begin February 1, 2016, and this will eventually reduce the number of candidates. Each state has an election, and typically voters have to choose either a Republican or a Democratic ballot, choosing only one candidate per ballot. Eventually, some candidates withdraw because they have not been able to win any primary elections.
By July of 2016, both parties will have reduced their field of candidates to only two or three people. A national convention is then held and each party then chooses their top candidate to run in the general election. Occasionally there is also an Independent candidate, but so far none have declared for the 2016 race. Debates are a big part of the Presidential election as well. First, there are always separate debates for each party. After the conventions, the final candidates are the only ones left to debate.
There is still a long time before the primaries, yet there has already been a great deal of national news coverage of the Presidential election. As more candidates enter the race, it will continue to be headline news. Don’t forget to vote!