The one year countdown for the 2016 presidential election has just begun. There are currently 12 candidates, 10 are Republicans, and 2 are Democrats. The Republican candidates include Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, and Donald Trump. The Democratic candidates include, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Hillary Clinton just recently lost her gigantic lead over Bernie Sanders as the two nearly tied in the Iowa polls. On the Republican side, Ted Cruz was put into the spotlight after defeating Donald Trump, Trump came into second place, and Rubio in third. Other candidates such as Rand Paul dropped out of the election after Iowa.

The nation’s first primary is in New Hampshire on Feb 9. Other important dates include, the Republican South Carolina primary on Feb 10, Democratic caucuses in Nevada on March 1, on March 15, Florida and Ohio will have elections and on June 7, all remaining primaries will be held.

Conventions begin on July 18 in Cleveland on the Republican side, the Democratic convention begins on July 25 in Philadelphia. Afterwards the parties will pick their nominees and the first presidential debate will take place on September 26 in Ohio. Election day will follow shortly on November 8.