With House impeachment proceedings taking longer than initially projected, a looming Senate trial poses a challenge to presidential candidates. Those who are senators may have to spend time away from the campaign trail as a trial intersects with primary contests, and candidates not in the Senate will have to break through a heightened focus on impeachment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated in September that impeachment proceedings would move “expeditiously,” with some hoping to vote on impeachment articles by Thanksgiving. But Democrats have not announced a timeline for the process and have not yet scheduled public hearings, which are expected before a vote on articles of impeachment.