With the New Year, we'll also eventually have a new president-elect.
Getting there however, is a long road. In the coming months, the race for the White House will heat up, with more campaigning, more debates and finally -- the primary elections.
Currently, there are three democrats and 12 republicans still in the presidential race.
Dana Bash has a closer look at what's ahead for this election year.
THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IS ABOUT TO START MOVING VERY FAST.
(nats)
EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST VOTES ARE CAST IN IOWA... THE JANUARY CALENDAR IS JAM PACKED.
FIRST UP, AN APPEARANCE BY THE GUY CURRENTLY OCCUPYING 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE... REMEMBER HIM?
(Pres. Obama) And the state of the union is strong.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL GIVE HIS EIGHTH AND FINAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
COULD HIS AGENDA MOTIVATE REPUBLICANS? OR DIVIDE THE DEMS?
THEN THERE ARE THE DEBATES DOTTING THE CALENDAR.
JANUARY ALONE WILL SEE THREE MORE FACE-TO-FACE CONFRONTATIONS
REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN REINCE PREIBUS ENGINEERED THE 2016 CALENDAR TO HELP COALESCE HIS PARTY AROUND A SINGLE CANDIDATE.
FEBRUARY FIRST IS THE CRITICAL DAY......THE IOWA CAUCUSES..
This is the big potato!
SHAPING UP AS A BATTLE BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND TED CRUZ.
CRUZ MIGHT HAVE THE BETTER GROUND GAME.
(Ted Cruz) "We have to date over 500 volunteers … who have volunteered between now and Feb. 1 to come from all over the country to Camp Cruz.”
BUT TRUMP COULD LURE NEW VOTERS.... IF THEY TURN OUT FOR THE COMPLICATED CAUCUS PROCESS.
(Trump) If we win Iowa, I think we're going to take everything after that!
THE WINNERS....AND LOSERS....FROM IOWA WILL FACE EACH OTHER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DEBATE (February 6) WEDGED IN JUST BEFORE THE NEXT VOTE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
(nats)
A WIN BY AN ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE COULD SET THE STAGE FOR A SOUTH CAROLINA SHOWDOWN.
THE PALMETTO STATE'S G-O-P PRIMARY IS JUST DAYS LATER... FEBRUARY 20TH.
(Rubio) South Carolina, a state that's always been good to me.
AND DON'T FORGET THE NEVADA CAUCUSES FOR THE GOP THREE DAYS LATER.
IT'S EXHAUSTING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT! BUT NO REST FOR THE POLITICAL WEARY.
THE FIRST DAY OF MARCH, SUPER TUESDAY... WHEN NO FEWER THAN 13 STATES WILL CAST THEIR PRIMARY VOTES.
(Cruz) "There is a very good possibility that the Republican primary will be decided by the end of March. First thing tomorrow, we've got a 90-day sprint to win this nomination."
SO PEDAL TO THE METAL... THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE IS FULL SPEED AHEAD.
Thanks, Dana.
In that story, you heard the word caucus... and you'll be hearing that a lot over the next few months.
This is how some states, like Iowa, choose their party candidates. Caucuses are a series of meetings across the state, where party members meet and openly vote for the candidate they would like to support.
If this sounds a little confusing, worry not. We'll be taking a closer look at the election process in upcoming shows
Instructional Links
Website Article: Congress for Kids, the Election of the President
http://www.congressforkids.net/Elections_electionpres.htm
Lesson Plan: PBS Newshour, Meet the Presidential Candidates in Election 2016
Website Article: PBSParents, The Race Is On! A Parent's Guide to Talking About the Presidential Election
http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/election/article-theraceison.html