After two full years—the longest U.S. presidential campaign ever, starting with former President Trump’s 2022 candidacy announcement—two key criteria for defining successful elections appear to have been met: 

• Reasonably high voter turn-out.

• Reasonably high level of trust that voting processes were fair and orderly.      

Thousands of poll workers in every state enabled millions of Americans to fill out their ballots and register their votes, prior to and on Election Day. Now that we’ve had a day or two to process the election outcome, here is an informal glance back at the 2024 election timeline, and forward to 2025: 

2022

Nov. 9, 2021 — Former President Trump announces candidacy

2023

Feb. 14  — Former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador Haley announces candidacy

Feb. 17 — The New York Times asks columnists if Haley’s candidacy "should be taken seriously."

Aug. 21 — Former President Trump announces he’ll skip the first primary debate and possibly others, based on his being the “leading candidate” according to polls.

Aug. 24 —Republican Primary Debate #1- Milwaukee, WI

Sep. 27 —Republican Primary Debate #2 – Simi Valley, CA

Nov. 8 —Republican Primary Debate #3 – Miami, FL

Dec. 6 —Republican Primary Debate #4 – Tuscaloosa, AL

Dec. 8 — Republican National Committee announces a “pause” on further primary debates

2024

Jan. 15 — Iowa Caucuses

Jan. 23 and after — New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan primaries

Mar. 5 — Super Tuesday – 12 states hold primaries

Mar. 12 — Mississippi, Washington and Georgia primaries 

Mar. 14 — Major news media announce nominations are ‘clinched’ by Trump and Biden and a ‘rematch’ is set.  A majority of states had not yet held 2024 primaries 

Mar. 19 — Delaware Department of Elections announces that April 2 primary is canceled, due to only one candidate for each party

Jun. 27 — Presidential Debate #1, bypassing Commission on Presidential Debates and preceding National Conventions and official nominations for first time 

Jul. 13 — Assassination attempt on former President Trump at Pennsylvania Rally

Jul. 15-18 — Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Former President Trump selects Ohio Senator JD Vance as running mate and accepts the Republican nomination.

Jul. 21 — President Biden announces he will suspend his reelection campaign; Vice President Harris announces and consolidates candidacy 

Jul. 31 – Aug. 5 — Vice President Harris nominated by virtual roll call vote of delegates  

Aug. 6 — Vice President Harris announces running mate Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota 

Aug 19-23 — Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Harris accepts Democratic nomination

Sep. 10 — Presidential debate #2 (only debate with final two candidates)

Oct. 1 — Vice Presidential debate

Oct. 15 – New Jersey voter registration deadline 

Nov. 5 — Election Day

2025

Jan. 20 – Inauguration Day

May 13 – Voter registration deadline for New Jersey primaries

Jun. 4 – New Jersey primary elections

Oct 14 – Voter registration deadline for electing New Jersey Governor 

Nov. 4 – NJ gubernatorial and local elections