To say that this election year is exciting is an understatement. It frequently seems like the entire established order has been turned inside out. The popularity of Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump has caused heads to shake (and roll) and old “conventions” to be questioned. For someone interested in journalism like Jacob as well as in political science like me, it is a dream.

Sometimes life is stranger than what you would expect, with this election cycle being a prime example. If you had told me a year ago that businessman Donald Trump would be the presidential nominee for the Republican Party, I would have laughed at you. Well, it happened. Election Day quickly approaches, so the party conventions will begin next week. As a member of the Monmouth Courier team, I will be bringing you coverage of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. So before I report for you, let me introduce myself.