Presidential Election 2012
United States presidential election timeline

January

  • January 3 – The Iowa Republican caucuses are initially declared as a victory for Mitt Romney, however later counts show Rick Santorum with a small lead, however later counts show Ron Paul with a majority of delegates. The Iowa Democratic caucuses are won by Barack Obama. Neither caucus awards any delegates, but are to be used as a guide for delegate selection in June's party conventions.
  • January 4 – Representative Michele Bachmann, who came in sixth in Iowa, announces the suspension of her Presidential campaign,
  • January 7 – Republican debate in Goffstown, New Hampshire, sponsored by ABC News and WMUR.
  • January 8 – Republican debate at the Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, sponsored by NBC News, Facebook, and The Union Leader.
  • January 10 – The New Hampshire Republican primary is won by Mitt Romney and New Hampshire Democratic primary by Barack Obama.
  • January 16 – Jon Huntsman, who came in third in New Hampshire, withdraws from the race and endorses Mitt Romney.
  • January 16 – Recount in Iowa shows that Rick Santorum won the Republican caucuses.
  • January 16 – Republican debates at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sponsored by Fox News and the Republican Party of South Carolina.
  • January 19 – Rick Perry, who came in sixth in New Hampshire, withdraws from the race and endorses Newt Gingrich.
  • January 19 – Republican debate in Charleston, South Carolina, sponsored by CNN and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference.
  • January 21 — The Nevada Democratic Caucuses are won by Barack Obama
  • January 21 – The South Carolina Republican primary is won by Newt Gingrich.
  • January 23 – Republican debate at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, sponsored by The St. Petersburg Times, NBC News, the National Journal and the Florida Council of 100.
  • January 26 – Republican debate in Jacksonville, Florida, sponsored by CNN and the Republican Party of Florida.
  • January 28 – The South Carolina Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama.
  • January 31 – The Florida Republican primary is won by Mitt Romney. The Florida Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama.

February

  • February 2 – Roseanne Barr, actress, announces her candidacy for the Green Party presidential nomination.
  • February 4 – Nevada Republican caucuses are won by Mitt Romney.
  • February 4 – Voting began in the Maine Republican caucuses: Paul gaining 21 delegates, and Romney 3.
  • February 7 – The Minnesota Republican caucuses are won by Rick Santorum.
  • February 7 – The Missouri Democratic Primary and Minnesota caucuses are won by Barack Obama. The Missouri Republican Primary is won by Rick Santorum, although the contest does not affect how Missouri's GOP delegates are awarded.
  • February 7 – The Colorado Republican caucuses are won by Rick Santorum.
  • February 11 – Voting concludes in the Maine Republican caucuses, Mitt Romney is declared the winner.
  • February 22 – Republican candidates debate on CNN in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • February 28 – Arizona Republican Primary won by Mitt Romney.
  • February 28 – Michigan Republican Primary won by Mitt Romney.
  • February 29 – Wyoming caucuses won by Mitt Romney.

March

  • March 3 – Washington state Republican caucuses – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – (Super Tuesday) – Romney wins six states; Santorum, three states; Gingrich wins Georgia.
  • March 6 – Alaska Republican district conventions – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – Colorado Republican caucuses – won by Santorum.
  • March 6 – Georgia primary – won by Newt Gingrich.
  • March 6 – Idaho Republican caucuses – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – North Dakota Republican caucuses – won by Rick Santorum.
  • March 6 – Massachusetts primary – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – Minnesota Republican caucuses – won by Rick Santorum.
  • March 6 – Ohio primary – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – Oklahoma primary – won by Rick Santorum.
  • March 6 – Tennessee primary – won by Rick Santorum.
  • March 6 – Vermont primary – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 6 – Virginia primary – won by Mitt Romney.
  • March 10 – Kansas Republican caucuses are won by Rick Santorum.
  • March 10 – Virgin Islands Republican caucuses are won by Ron Paul, but most of the delegates were awarded to Mitt Romney.
  • March 11 – Maine Democratic caucuses
  • March 13 – Alabama Republican primary; Hawaii, and American Samoa Republican caucuses; Mississippi Democratic and Republican Primaries; Utah Democratic caucuses
  • March 17 – Missouri Republican caucuses (52 delegates)
  • March 18 – Puerto Rico Republican caucuses – won by Romney
  • March 20 – Mitt Romney wins the Illinois primaries
  • March 24 – Louisiana primaries – won by Rick Santorum
  • March 31 – Arizona Democratic caucuses

April

  • April 3 – Maryland, Wisconsin, Washington DC primaries – won by Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, the latter of whom won enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination.
  • April 10 – Former US Senator Rick Santorum suspends his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
  • April 14 – Idaho Democratic caucuses, Kansas Democratic caucuses, Nebraska Democratic caucuses, Wyoming Democratic caucuses
  • April 15 – Alaska Democratic caucuses, Washington Democratic caucuses
  • April 18–21 – 2012 Constitution Party National Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee
  • April 21 – Former US Congressman Virgil Goode wins the presidential nomination of the Constitution Party
  • April 24 – Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island primaries - won by Mitt Romney
  • April 25 - Republican National Committee declares Mitt Romney the presumptive nominee of the party.

May

  • May 2 – Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich suspended his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination and endorsed Mitt Romney.
  • May 4–6 – The 2012 Libertarian National Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ron Paul wins the majority of delegates in Nevada and Maine.
  • May 5 – Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson wins the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party
  • May 5 – Michigan Democratic caucuses, Florida Democratic caucuses
  • May 8 – Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia primaries
  • May 15 – Nebraska, and Oregon primaries
  • May 22 – Arkansas, and Kentucky primaries
  • May 29 – Texas primaries
  • May 31 - Buddy Roemer ends his presidential campaign.

June

  • June 3 – Puerto Rico Democratic caucuses
  • June 5 – California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota primaries; North Dakota Democratic caucuses
  • June 26 – Utah primaries
  • June 29 - Political consultant Fred Karger suspends his Presidential campaign

July

  • July 12–15 – Jill Stein wins the presidential nomination of the Green Party at the party's nominating covention held in Baltimore, Maryland. Cheri Honkala is the party's vice-presidential nominee.

August

  • August 11 – Paul Ryan, house budget chairman, is announced as Mitt Romney's vice presidential candidate.
  • August 27–30 – Romney and Ryan are nominated for President and Vice President, respectively, at the 2012 Republican National Convention held in Tampa, Florida.

September

  • September 3–6 – Obama and Biden are nominated for President and Vice President, respectively, at the 2012 Democratic National Convention was held in Charlotte, North Carolina.

October

  • October 3 — First Presidential Debate at University of Denver in Denver, Colorado
  • October 11 — Vice Presidential Debate at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
  • October 16 — Second Presidential Debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
  • October 22 — Third Presidential Debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida

November

  • November 6 – Election Day