MARK YOUR CALENDARS — If you haven’t noticed already, the first month of the new year is chock full of news events, with the promise of consequential election results out of Iowa and New Hampshire that will tell us just how much of an inside track former President Donald Trump has for the GOP nomination and perhaps even how strong President Joe Biden looks within his own party. And that’s just the beginning of a year that features the possibility of the White House, Senate and House all changing hands in November, a quadrennial Olympics that could chew through news cycles and more than a few international elections with significant geopolitical implications during a time of rising tensions across the globe. Nightly combed through the schedule and found 24 dates that stand out on the calendar and could throw this presidential election year for a loop. Jan. 15 — Iowa GOP caucuses Jan. 19 — Government funding deadline (part 1): The government could face its first shutdown of the year less than a month into 2024. The first of two government spending deadlines comes in January, when Congress must approve funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and the Food and Drug Administration. Jan. 23 — New Hampshire primary Jan. 31 — The next Federal Open Market Committee meeting: The FOMC, the monetary policy-making arm of the Federal Reserve, will decide at the end of January what to do about interest rates. And while many policymakers and investors are guessing that the FOMC will keep interest rates steady, a potential early lowering of interest rates (Fed Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that it’s likely interest rates will creep down at some point this year) could quickly stimulate the economy and give a boost to President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects. But there’s also risk involved — lowering rates without enough caution carries the risk of yet again causing inflation to tumble out of control. Feb. 2 — Government funding deadline (part 2): Even if Congress avoids a shutdown in January, another looming spending deadline could freeze the government in February. Money for the Defense Department and most of the federal agencies will have to be passed by midnight – in addition to the January spending deadlines — to avoid a government shutdown after Congress passed a two-tiered temporary spending bill last November. Feb. 3 — South Carolina Democratic primary: The Democratic National Committee placed their first primary of the 2024 season in South Carolina this year, shaking up the traditional order. Within the party’s new primary calendar, this will mark the first time President Joe Biden’s name will actually appear on a ballot this year. Feb. 6 — Nevada primary: Nevada will hold a state-mandated primary, followed by a caucus run by the state Republican Party two days later. Feb. 8 — Nevada caucuses: The Nevada Republican Party will host their presidential preference caucuses two days after the state-run primary — and has vowed to exclude any candidates who appear on the state primary ballot. Feb. 24 — South Carolina GOP primary March 4 — Trump trial date, District of Columbia: The current trial date in the federal case alleging that Donald Trump plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Special counsel Jack Smith will attempt to prove that the events of Jan. 6, 2021 were “exactly what Trump intended to happen.” While this date is what’s on the schedule, it has been imperiled by Trump’s team’s claims of immunity from prosecution, which are currently being litigated. This trial date will likely move. March 5 — Super Tuesday: More than a third of all GOP delegates are at stake on Super Tuesday, marking it the largest delegate haul of the primary season. Sixteen states and territories — including California, Texas, and North Carolina — will hold their primary or caucus. March 19 — Florida primary: There are 125 delegates at stake in Florida, and combined with contests in Arizona, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio on the same day, the full count of delegates available by March 19 will reach 1,680. That’s well above the estimated 1,235 needed to win the GOP nomination— and the Trump campaign has estimated they can secure victory by this date. March 25 — Trump trial date, Manhattan: The scheduled start of Trump’s trial in the case involving alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. The 34-count indictment in the trial accuses Trump of falsifying business records related to cash payments to Daniels before the 2016 election and is being brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office. May 20 — Trump trial date, Florida: The scheduled start date of Trump’s trial in Florida, related to his alleged seizure of classified documents from the White House. The case, also brought by special counsel Jack Smith, has 37 criminal counts that include conspiracy to obstruct justice, making false statements and violating the Espionage Act. Judge Aileen Cannon rejected Trump’s appeal to move the date of the trial, but left open the possibility of moving the date at a March 1 scheduling conference. June 2 — Mexico’s presidential election July 15-18 — Republican National Convention, Milwaukee July 26-August 11 — Summer Olympics, Paris August 5 — Trump trial date, Georgia: The date that prosecutors in Georgia have proposed for the start of Trump’s trial concerning 2020 election interference there. According to a court filing from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the date takes into account potential delays from his other legal troubles. Willis has said it’s distinctly possible their trial will run past Election Day and potentially into 2025. August 18-22 — Democratic National Convention, Chicago Sept. 16 — First presidential debate: The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has announced dates and venues for three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. Former President Donald Trump and the RNC have said they will not participate in any debates conducted by the commission, which has sponsored the general election presidential debates in every election since 1988. Sept. 25 — Vice presidential debate Oct. 1 — Second presidential debate Oct. 9 — Third presidential debate Nov. 5 — Election Day Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com. Or contact tonight’s authors at mmcarthy@politico.com, cmchugh@politico.com and cmahtesian@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Reporter_Mia, @calder_mchugh or @PoliticoCharlie.
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