It is here.

After months of backgrounding, debating, preparing and fretting, 2016 is here. And with it comes an election, a new legislative session, renewed political fights and a time to dig into pressing issues.

To brace you for the political rejoicing, we’ve put together this 2016 political calendar and tip sheet of key dates:

Jan. 15 — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is legally mandated to release his proposal for statewide borrowing. Expect this bonding proposal to be too big and too porky for some, and expect Dayton to repeat that infrastructure investment is needed and note all the projects he did not include.

Feb. 1 — Followers of presidential campaigns will immediately know that this is the date of Iowa’s presidential caucus. Iowa lore, passed down by the Des Moines Register’s Three Tickets podcast (worth a listen), says that Iowa gives out three tickets. That is, the top three finishers can survive.

Feb. 2 — Minnesota political geeks (like me) can home in on the day after the Iowa caucus. That’s when state candidates, parties and political groups’ 2015 spending and fundraising reports will be released. Minnesota politicos tend to really press fundraising in the election year, but these reports will give a sense of the relative strength of off-year coffers and will highlight who is in need of a lot more cash.

March 1 — Minnesota squeezes its way into the presidential spotlight with its caucuses on this date, dubbed Super Tuesday because 14 states will be conducting contests. With so many Republican candidates and binding voting to determine national convention strength, GOP insiders are planning for record-breaking attendance. During President Barack Obama’s first run, Minnesota so obliterated its Democratic caucus attendance record that few expect DFLers to set records this time, but the fight between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton may encourage people to attend.

March 8 — The Legislature is back in session. Democrats and Republicans will wrestle over all the usual issues — taxes, spending, transportation, education and borrowing — and will toss in a few less-common battles as well. Expect talk of (and possible action on) sentencing, police and prison reform, Real ID, walleyes, Iron Range unemployment and racial achievement gaps in education. The state already has its budget set through summer 2017, so no budget showdown is in the offing.

April 22 — All Republican congressional district conventions must be held between April 22 and May 7. Expect particular attention to the convention in the suburban and rural 2nd District, where an open seat has attracted many candidates.

May 17 — In Minnesota, this day opens candidate filing with the secretary of state’s office. From May 17 through May 31, candidates need to officially declare their intent to run. By the end of May, you will know who is running (and not running) for the Legislature.

May 20 — Republican state convention starts in Duluth. Without a Minnesota statewide election on the ballot and the presidential convention delegate strength already decided, expect lots of intraparty fun.

May 22 — 4th Congressional District DFL endorsing convention is on this date, the last of the party’s eight congressional endorsing conventions. The first ones are on April 30, with the 7th and 2nd districts’ gatherings.

May 23 — Just 10 weeks and six days after lawmakers return to the Capitol for their annual session, the Legislature is mandated by the state Constitution to end its session. By design, the even-numbered legislative sessions are short. That allows incumbent candidates for the Legislature to get out and campaign.

June 4 — DFL state convention starts in Minneapolis. Like the Republican convention weeks before, intraparty fun is on tap.

July 18 — Republican national convention starts in Cleveland. Already, folks are talking about a brokered convention. That’s unlikely, but it would give political types lots of reasons to tune in.

July 25 — Democratic national convention starts in Philadelphia. Hark back to 1976, when there was Minnesota drama at the Democratic convention. It wasn’t until the convention that presidential nominee Jimmy Carter announced Minnesotan Walter Mondale as his running mate. Any chance of that kind of Minnesota drama in 2016? Probably not, but politicos can hope.

Aug. 9 — Minnesota’s primary election. Expect some intraparty battles for the Legislature to enliven this election.

Nov. 8 — Election Day. Woo hoo!

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger’s political column appears weekly. Follow her at twitter.com/rachelsb or email her at rstassen-berger@pioneerpress.com.