Republican senator Ted Cruz this week announced his candidacy for president—the first major declared candidate in the 2016 election. Here’s a look back at the early candidates in previous presidential election.

2012

Herman Cain, a businessman best known as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, formed a presidential campaign exploratory committee in Jan. 2011. Although he won two straw polls, the Republican nominee dropped out of the race on Dec. 2011.

2008

North Carolina senator John Edwards, who ran as vice president on the Democratic ticket in 2004, was the first major nominee to declare his candidacy. He announced from his home in New Orleans in Dec. 2006. After losing to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in every primary and caucus, Edwards dropped out in Jan. 2008.

2004

Popular Republican president George W. Bush didn’t face any challengers for re-election, but several Democrats announced their candidacy. The early frontrunner was the earliest declared nominee: Vermont governor Howard Dean formed a committee in May 2002, two years before the first caucus. He aired his first presidential campaign ad in June 2003, and was the leader in the polls…until the primaries started. After a poor showing on Super Tuesday, losing to John Kerry in most states, Dean pulled out of the race.

2000

Vice President Al Gore was expected to run for the Democratic nomination and he did, and he won it. His only challenger was ex-NBA star and New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, who declared in Dec. 1998. He lost ever primary to Gore.

1996

Several notable Republicans turned down a chance to run against Bill Clinton in his re-election bid in 1996, including Texas governor George W. Bush, ex-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, and former vice president Dan Quayle. Senator Bob Dole was the presumed (and eventual nominee) but the first candidate to throw their hat in the ring was moderate Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter. He didn’t gain much support and withdrew in Nov. 1995.