【解説】２０２０年米大統領選、長く厳しい道のり

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米大統領選で、指名が確実視される現職のドナルド・トランプ大統領と戦うことなる野党・民主党の候補者選びの初戦となるアイオワ州党員集会が3日、行われる。（写真は民主党の大統領選予備選の候補ら）
　大統領選の主な日程をまとめた。

■２月３日：アイオワ州党員集会
　米大統領の候補者選びの初戦は毎回、中西部アイオワ州で始まる。
　投票は、地域の集会として開催される党員集会で行われる。候補者を支持する党員が本人に代わって意見を述べることになっており、各候補者の支持者ごとにグループを作り投票する。

■２月１１～２９日：主要３州の予備選
　民主党候補者選びで重要な意味を持つ大注目の３州の予備選は、立て続けに行われる。日程は、ニューハンプシャー州が２月１１日、ネバダ州が同月２２日、サウスカロライナ州が同月２９日。

■３月３日：スーパーチューズデー
　予備選が集中する３月３日のスーパーチューズデーでは、大票田であるカリフォルニアとテキサスを含む１４州、１海外領土、海外在住の民主党員の投票が行われる。
　６月初めまでには、５０州すべてと五つの海外領土での予備選が終了する。

■７月１３～１６日：民主党全国大会
　民主党は激戦州ウィスコンシンのミルウォーキーで、参加者が記録的な数に上った１年に及ぶ戦いを勝ち残った候補者を正式に大統領候補として指名する。

■８月２４～２７日：共和党全国大会
　民主党全国大会の数週間後、ノースカロライナ州シャーロットで、共和党の大統領候補指名が行われる。トランプ氏は党内で強い勢力基盤を保っており、事実上トランプ氏が選ばれることは既定路線となっている。

■９月２９日：第１回大統領選討論会
　計３回行われる共和党と民主党の大統領候補の討論会は全国放送される。第１回は９月にノートルダム大学で開催される。
　第２回は１０月１５日にミシガン大学、第３回は同月２２日にテネシー州のベルモント大学でそれぞれ開催される。

■１１月３日：大統領選投票
　世界中が見守る中、次期大統領を決める投票が実施される。

■２０２１年１月２０日：大統領就任式
　トランプ氏が２期目の宣誓式に臨む、もしくは新たな人物が、第４６代大統領として首都ワシントンで就任宣誓を行う。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/02/04-12:10）

Iowa votes on February 3 kicking off the crowded race for the Democratic nomination, which then gives way to a hotly contested battle against presidential incumbent Donald Trump.
Here are the key steps along the way:
- 2019: Debates -
Six Democratic debates were held in 2019 -- some fiery, others sleepy -- and another occurred two weeks ago.
With a sprawling, historically diverse field, candidates challenged one another on policy, ideology and performance.
Five more Democratic nomination debates are set for 2020 as the remaining candidates make their case to the American people.
- February 3, 2020: Iowa caucuses -
This sparsely populated Midwestern battleground gets its close-up every four years, given its role as the first US state to vote in the parties' nomination processes.
By tradition, the vote is conducted in so-called caucuses, local meetings where participants hear pitches from candidates' representatives, and can vote with their feet by grouping together with other supporters of the same candidate.
- February 11-29: Three key primaries -
Three more crucial early Democratic votes occur in quick succession. New Hampshire (February 11), Nevada (February 22) and South Carolina (February 29) receive inordinate amounts of political attention. Like Iowa, they can propel, or dash, the hopes of a candidate.
- March 3: Super Tuesday -
Given its avalanche of primary contests, so-called Super Tuesday could leave a decisive mark on the nomination race. Fourteen states and one territory, plus Democrats abroad, organize their votes on March 3, including the nation's two most populous states: California and Texas.
All 50 states and five US territories will have conducted their votes by early June.
- July 13-16: Democratic National Convention -
After an intense campaign lasting more than a year and featuring a record number of contenders, the Democratic Party formally nominates its candidate for president at its national convention in Milwaukee, in the swing state of Wisconsin.
- August 24-27: Republican National Convention -
Several weeks later in Charlotte, North Carolina, it is the Republicans' turn. But their nominee is effectively a foregone conclusion, with Trump still popular with the party's base.
With an impeachment trial in process, his removal from office is possible but the chance seems remote at this stage.
- September 29: First presidential debate -
The Republican and Democratic candidates clash on stage during three nationally televised debates, the first occurring at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in late September, five weeks before the election.
The two others are set for October 15 at the University of Michigan and October 22 at Belmont University in Tennessee.
The candidates' running mates seeking the vice presidency square off at the University of Utah on October 7.
- November 3: Election Day -
With the eyes of the world watching, millions of American voters head to the polls to choose the next White House occupant.
- January 20, 2021: Inauguration Day -
Either Trump is sworn in for a second term, or a new president takes the oath of office on the US Capitol steps to become the nation's 46th president.