Congressional and Presidential Schedule Until Inauguration
Here’s a list of important dates coming up in the next few months. Stay tuned for further policy updates and reminders!
The Senate returned for its lame duck session on November 9, 2020.
November 16, 2020
The House will return for its lame duck session.
November 17, 2020
House Republicans will hold leadership elections to determine who will hold the top spots in the House Republican conference.
November 18-19, 2020
House Democrats will hold leadership elections. Every leadership position gets a vote, regardless of whether it is a contested race. The top three Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), are running uncontested at this time.
November 30, 2020
House Democrats will vote on committee chairmanships during the week after Thanksgiving.
December 8, 2020
Deadline for states to settle any election disputes, under federal law (3 U.S. Code § 5) known as the “safe harbor provision.” See a detailed timeline here.
December 14, 2020
The members of the Electoral College, each state’s electors, meet in their respective states to cast their votes for President and Vice President.
January 3, 2021
The 117th Congress will convene. New members will be sworn in. This date is a Sunday, so there is a possibility the 116th Congress will pass legislation to delay until the following Monday or Tuesday.
January 5, 2021
Georgia will host a runoff election for two key senate races. In Georgia, a second election takes place when none of the candidates receive 50% of the votes. Incumbent David Perdue (R-GA) will face Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, and incumbent Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) will face Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock.
January 6, 2021
Joint session of Congress to count electoral votes.
January 20, 2021
Presidential Inauguration. The Twentieth Amendment set the date for inaugurations as January 20 in 1937.