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A Timeline of the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

Seal of the President of the United StatesWith the 2012 United States presidential election now over, EducationWorld presents the following timeline of events, beginning with President Barack Obama officially entering the race and ending with his re-election and Inauguration Day.

Be sure to use the timeline to help students put the election in perspective. And don't miss EducationWorld's wealth of additional election-related teaching materials including:

NEW! - Election 2012 Student Discussion Guide
Election Lessons and Activities
Teaching the Election
Election Archive
Electoral College Lesson Plan
 

Romney

Obama

The 2012 United States Presidential Election

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

4-April-2011

President Barack Obama files the necessary paperwork with Federal Election Committee to formally seek re-election.

11-May-2011

Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich officially declares his candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

21-May-2011

Businessman Herman Cain officially declares his candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

2-June-2011

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney officially declares his candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

6-June-2011

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum officially declares his candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

27-June-2011

U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann officially declares her candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

13-August-2011

Texas Governor Rick Perry officially declares his candidacy for presidential nomination of the Republican Party.

3-December-2011

Herman Cain suspends his campaign for president amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

2012

3-January-2012

Rick Santorum wins a narrow victory over Mitt Romney in the Iowa Republican Caucuses.

4-January-2012

Michelle Bachmann suspends her campaign for president after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Iowa Republican Caucuses.

10-January-2012

Mitt Romney wins the New Hampshire Republican Primary.

19-January-2012

Rick Perry suspends his campaign for president after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the New Hampshire Republican Primary. He formally endorses Newt Gingrich for the nomination.

21-January-2012

Newt Gingrich wins the South Carolina Republican Primary.

31-January-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Florida Republican Primary.

4-February-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Nevada Republican Caucuses.

7-February-2012

Rick Santorum wins the Minnesota Republican Caucuses, the Colorado Republican Caucuses and the Missouri Republican Primary.

11-February-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Maine Republican Caucuses.

28-February-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Arizona and Michigan Republican Primaries.

29-February-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Wyoming Republican Caucuses.

3-March-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Washington Republican Caucuses.

6-March-2012 (Super Tuesday)

Mitt Romney wins the Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont and Virginia Republican Primaries. Rick Santorum wins the Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Tennessee Republican Primaries. Newt Gingrich wins the Georgia Republican Primary.

10-March-2012

Rick Santorum wins the Kansas Republican Caucuses.

20-March-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Illinois Republican Primary.

24-March-2012

Rick Santorum wins the Louisiana Republican Primary.

3-April-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. Republican Primaries.

10-April-2012

Rick Santorum suspends his campaign for president.

24-April-2012

Mitt Romney wins the Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Republican Primaries.

25-April-2012

Mitt Romney declared the Republican Candidate for president by the Republican National Committee.

2-May-2012

Newt Gingrich suspends his campaign for president and endorses Mitt Romney.

11-August-2012

Congressman Paul Ryan is selected by Mitt Romney to be his vice-presidential running mate.

30-August-2012

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are officially nominated for President and Vice-President of the United States by the Republican National Convention.

6-September-2012

Barack Obama and Joe Biden are officially nominated for President and Vice-President of the United States by the Democratic National Convention.

6-November-2012

Election Day - President Barack Obama is re-elected to a second term.

17-December-2012

The Electoral College formally elects President Obama and Vice President Biden.

2013

6-January-2013

The President of the Senate formally announces the results after the Electoral Votes are counted before a joint session of Congress.

20-January-2013

Inauguration Day

 


Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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