Major dates on the road to US presidential elections More>>

  • US presidential elections are to be held in one year, but first candidates must make their way through a series of primary votes and other key dates.
  • Republican primaries:
  • - January 3: Iowa caucus kicks off the state-by-state votes
  • - January 10: Primary in New Hampshire
  • - January 21: Primary in South Carolina
  • - January 31: Primary in Florida
  • - February 4: Caucuses in Nevada and in Maine
  • - March 6: 'Super Tuesday' with primaries in more than 10 states
  • - June 26: Last primary held in Utah
  • Party conventions:
  • - August 27-30: Republican convention in Tampa Bay, Florida
  • - September 3-6: Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Other important dates:
  • - October 3: First of three televised debates between Republican candidate and President Barack Obama
  • - November 6: Presidential and congressional elections
  • - January 20, 2013: Presidential inauguration

Proposed Electoral College 2012

Electoral College map for the 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections.

Electoral College map for the 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections.

Party conventions

Democratic candidates

Barack Obama
Barack Obama

The 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office.

Republican candidates:

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

The 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007.
Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

The 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.
Ron Paul

Ron Paul

An American physician, author, Republican United States Representative, and a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.
Rick Perry

Rick Perry

The 47th and current Governor of Texas.
Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Jon Huntsman, Jr.

An American politician, businessman, and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah.
Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

A member of the Republican Party, he represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Republican primary results