a candidate must be: born on US soil at least35 years old at least 35 years old a resident of the US for14 years a resident of the US for 14 years

political experience political experience military experience military experience money money party support party support looks looks political experience military experience money party support looks Or all of the above!

straw polls mostly informal mostly informal done by parties & private organizations done by parties & private organizations nonbinding results nonbinding results generate “buzz” generate “buzz”

midterm elections two years out two years out House and Senate seats up for grabs House and Senate seats up for grabs What kind of people are winning? …and where?

exploratory committees potential candidates start researching: potential candidates start researching: Where should I focus? Will people vote for me? Can I raise enough money? Where’s my base? What would I have to change? Who do I want to be seen with? Will my party back me? Should I run?

beginning of year before election (or even earlier) candidates make intentions known (or others push them)

money money media gaffes media gaffes personal disinterest personal disinterest public disinterest public disinterest money media gaffes personal disinterest public disinterest A serious presidential candidate needs to raise $100,000,000 by the end of FEC Chairman Michael Stoner

starts around the beginning of election year starts around the beginning of election year parties choose candidate to support parties choose candidate to support state-by-state state-by-state primaries and caucuses primaries and caucuses

What is a party primary? a statewide election to nominate a candidate a statewide election to nominate a candidate may be closed may be closed - for registered party members only - for registered party members only or may be open or may be open - for any registered voter - for any registered voter

Are Virginia primaries open or closed?

What is a party caucus? registered party members assemble registered party members assemble divide into groups supporting each candidate divide into groups supporting each candidate group too small? join new group group too small? join new group repeat until there’s a majority repeat until there’s a majority

Iowa and New Hampshire Iowa – first caucuses of primary season New Hampshire – first primaries seen as very important seen as very important momentum starts here momentum starts here

The first few primaries thin the herd even more.

Super Tuesday a.k.a. National Primary Day 22 states hold Democratic primaries 22 states hold Democratic primaries 21 hold Republican primaries 21 hold Republican primaries happens in February or March happens in February or March

The last primaries are in June. Usually, the winners emerge in March. But sometimes it can go ‘til the end.

National Conventions late August / early September late August / early September nominations officially made and accepted nominations officially made and accepted big pep rallies big pep rallies on to the big show! on to the big show!

Finally! The Democratic and Republican nominees face off. media coverage intensifies media coverage intensifies appearances and stump speeches appearances and stump speeches policy debates policy debates nominees choose running mates nominees choose running mates

Who are the two men in this picture? AAAbraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis A BB James Buchanan and B John C. Fremont CCWilliam Jennings Bryan and William McKinley C DDAbraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas D

running mates may be chosen to: compensate for perceived shortcomings compensate for perceived shortcomings appeal to certain segment of voters appeal to certain segment of voters help win battleground state / region help win battleground state / region compensate for perceived shortcomings appeal to certain segment of voters help win battleground state / region

The final countdown! attacks intensify attacks intensify media saturation media saturation trying to persuade undecided voters trying to persuade undecided voters

the first Tuesday in November

Before you can vote: you must be at least 18 and a US citizen you must be at least 18 and a US citizen some different rules from state to state some different rules from state to state generally, you can’t be a felon generally, you can’t be a felon Virginia voting information can be found here Virginia voting information can be found herehere

The Electoral College: not a true popular vote not a true popular vote # of electors = # of congressional districts + 2 # of electors = # of congressional districts + 2 each state chooses electors each state chooses electors 538 electoral votes in all 538 electoral votes in all

How many electoral votes does Virginia get? A7A7A7A7 BB 13 B CC21 C DD24 D

A candidate can lose the popular vote and still win the election!

Who’s this dude? AABenjamin Harrison A BB Ulysses S. Grant B CCRutherford B. Hayes C DDCharlie Daniels D

results usually known the next day results usually known the next day Thursday, they’re speculating about next time Thursday, they’re speculating about next time …though not always! inauguration day – January 20th inauguration day – January 20th

…two years after the whole mess started! inauguration day – January 20th inauguration day – January 20th