We’re about to go through a tumultuous 2016 election cycle.
It’ll bruise, it’ll batter, and weaker minds will falter and inevitably fall.
Some, however, will succeed.
It’s their stories that we’re interested in – the winners.
To become a winner, however, you must go through the gauntlet.
These are primaries and all the requisite bullshit that goes with them.
We already saw a lot of bullshit this year:
Of course, there was more.
But without getting into all that and without further bluster, let’s lay out what dates are important for us here in Montana…the things we should keep our eye on.
It’ll bruise, it’ll batter, and weaker minds will falter and inevitably fall.
Some, however, will succeed.
It’s their stories that we’re interested in – the winners.
To become a winner, however, you must go through the gauntlet.
These are primaries and all the requisite bullshit that goes with them.
We already saw a lot of bullshit this year:
- March 23, 2015: Ted Cruz declared his candidacy.
- April 7, 2015: Rand Paul got into the race.
- April 12, 2015: Hillary Clinton entered the race on the Democratic side.
- April 30, 2015: Bernie Sanders rose to challenge Hillary.
- June 15, 2015: Jeb Bush enters the race.
- June 16, 2015: Donald Trump jumps into the race.
Of course, there was more.
But without getting into all that and without further bluster, let’s lay out what dates are important for us here in Montana…the things we should keep our eye on.
Important Political Dates for 2016
January 14: Candidate Filing Opens in Montana
February 1: Iowa Caucus
February 9: New Hampshire Primary.
February 16: County Commissions have until this day to change precinct boundaries.
February 20: South Carolina Primary
February 23: Nevada Primary.
March 1: Super Tuesday. Twelve states have a primary or a caucus, including the critical swing states of Colorado, Virginia, and Tennessee.
March 5: Kansas and Louisiana have primaries.
March 7: New Political Party Petitions must be filed by this day in Montana.
March 8: Mississippi and Michigan primaries.
March 15: Mini-Super Tuesday: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have primaries on this day.
March 14: Candidate Filing Closes in Montana
March 19: Candidates in Montana have to file initial campaign paperwork by this date.
March 22: Montana COPP will tell Montana Secretary of State which candidates are official and which are not.
March 24: Deadline for “local nonpartisan” election administrators to determine whether primaries are needed in their area for precinct elections.
April 5: Wisconsin Primary.
April 11: Election Administrators announce when voter registration will close.
April 22: Absentee ballots go out to Montana military and overseas electors.
April 26: Super Tuesday #3. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have primaries.
May 3: Deadline for Montana write-in candidates.
May 8: Legislative candidates must be living in their county or district by this date to be eligible for election.
May 9: Absentee ballots begin to go out and regular voter registration closes.
May 10: Late voter registration begins.
May 13: All absentee ballots have to go out.
May 31: Deadline for independent or minor party candidates to get petitions in.
June 7: Montana Primary
July 18 to 21: GOP Convention in Ohio.
July 25 to 28: Democratic Convention in Philadelphia
November 8: Election Day
February 1: Iowa Caucus
February 9: New Hampshire Primary.
February 16: County Commissions have until this day to change precinct boundaries.
February 20: South Carolina Primary
February 23: Nevada Primary.
March 1: Super Tuesday. Twelve states have a primary or a caucus, including the critical swing states of Colorado, Virginia, and Tennessee.
March 5: Kansas and Louisiana have primaries.
March 7: New Political Party Petitions must be filed by this day in Montana.
March 8: Mississippi and Michigan primaries.
March 15: Mini-Super Tuesday: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have primaries on this day.
March 14: Candidate Filing Closes in Montana
March 19: Candidates in Montana have to file initial campaign paperwork by this date.
March 22: Montana COPP will tell Montana Secretary of State which candidates are official and which are not.
March 24: Deadline for “local nonpartisan” election administrators to determine whether primaries are needed in their area for precinct elections.
April 5: Wisconsin Primary.
April 11: Election Administrators announce when voter registration will close.
April 22: Absentee ballots go out to Montana military and overseas electors.
April 26: Super Tuesday #3. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have primaries.
May 3: Deadline for Montana write-in candidates.
May 8: Legislative candidates must be living in their county or district by this date to be eligible for election.
May 9: Absentee ballots begin to go out and regular voter registration closes.
May 10: Late voter registration begins.
May 13: All absentee ballots have to go out.
May 31: Deadline for independent or minor party candidates to get petitions in.
June 7: Montana Primary
July 18 to 21: GOP Convention in Ohio.
July 25 to 28: Democratic Convention in Philadelphia
November 8: Election Day
Conclusion
There are a lot more dates after that Montana primary, but I think you get the gist of it.
The season will be long. It’ll be bloody. And when it’s all through you’ll want to throw your TV out the window.
God help us overcome the nincompoops that are about to assault our senses and sensibilities.
Election season is upon us.
The season will be long. It’ll be bloody. And when it’s all through you’ll want to throw your TV out the window.
God help us overcome the nincompoops that are about to assault our senses and sensibilities.
Election season is upon us.
