It’s been nearly three months since the midterm elections on November 6, and the 2020 presidential campaign is already in full swing.
So where have the potential candidates been going?
CNN is compiling data on all the presidential hopefuls’ campaign trips to answer these questions. Here’s a rundown on some of what we know so far.
As of Tuesday, there had already been nearly 100 separate campaign trips taken by candidates since the midterms. That number is closer to 80 if you exclude campaign events in the greater Washington, DC, area.
Topping the list is, to nobody’s surprise, Iowa: There have been at least 21 candidate trips there so far. New Hampshire has garnered at least 11, Texas nine and South Carolina seven.
Of the various candidates, Beto O’Rourke leads the pack so far, with nine trips to date since the midterms — even though he remains undecided on whether he will run. And his many stops are largely due to a road trip sojourn during which he wrote essays and pondered his life.
Following close on Beto’s heels is Kamala Harris — who has officially declared a campaign. She’s taken at least eight trips. Elizabeth Warren, Eric Swalwell and John Delaney round things out with seven trips apiece so far.
CNN’s database includes any potential candidates holding events after November 6, whether they have officially declared, formed exploratory committees or remain coy about their intentions.
It’s mostly Democrats, but also includes former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who recently created quite a ruckus when he criticized the Democratic Party and said he was seriously considering an independent run to challenge President Donald Trump.
It will also include candidates like former Libertarian vice presidential candidate Bill Weld, who is rumored to be flirting with a return to his Republican roots and staging a long-shot primary challenge to Trump. (Weld hasn’t taken any trips to date, but he has a New Hampshire event on the books for mid-February.)
Speaking of upcoming events, while schedules are subject to change, there are already at least two dozen trips announced by the candidates in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
