As the 2016 election season draws to a close, we thought there would be no better way to reward readers who have paid close attention to the campaigns than offer a quiz about the seemingly endless ordeal.

From the sharp reversals and near-daily bombshells of the presidential contest to the stunning upsets and jaw-dropping tangents that threatened to consume the U.S. Senate race, pundits have scratched their heads searching for fresh ways to say “wild and wooly” and “topsy-turvy,” not to mention other, less jovial adjectives.

Up and down the ballot, candidates hardly failed to surprise, although at press time, when another round of bombshells were dropping, voters might be forgiven if they were ready to hit the fast-forward button.

In the Senate race alone, as many as 15 GOP candidates tossed their hats in the ring for the chance to challenge Michael Bennet, accurately pegged as the only vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the country. Only five Republicans, however, made the June primary ballot: El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn stunned the competition by being the sole candidate to emerge from the state assembly, while four others – Fort Collins businessman Jack Graham, Colorado Springs businessman Robert Blaha, former state Rep. Jon Keyser and former Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier – petitioned their way on, though not without multiple trips to court and a petition forgery scandal. Glenn won the primary, buffeted by endorsements from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and conservative figure Erick Erickson, among others.

Legislative races have been no less entertaining, even though the brief campaign of reality TV star Ben Higgins, the Republican who ran against state Rep. Dan Pabon in a heavily Democratic north Denver district, was truncated when the producers who own the rights to his wedding put the kibosh on his run.

You won’t find questions about email servers, Obamacare or the Hospital Provider Fee – there’s been wall-to-wall coverage of those topics, and anyone paying close attention to the election deserves a break. Check your cleverness rating on the wonk-o-meter, find the answers in the November 3, 2016, print edition of The Colorado Statesman.

1. As many as 15 Republicans vied for the U.S. Senate nomination. Which of the following didn’t publicly flirt with running before deciding against it?

• A. Broncos legend John Elway
• B. U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman
• C. Attorney General Cynthia Coffman
• D. Radio host Dan Caplis

2. What was the phrase sponsor CNBC used to promote the third Republican presidential debate, held Oct. 28, 2015, in Boulder?

• A. The Rumble in the People’s Republic
• B. Your Money – Your Vote
• C. See You in Cleveland
• D. Our Ratings Bonanza

3. In his first television commercial, how did Republican U.S. Senate candidate Robert Blaha depict the government?

• A. A feral pig wearing a cowboy hat
• B. A gleeful proctologist
• C. A horde of ravenous zombies
• D. A sleepy bureaucrat sipping coffee while a ringing phone goes unanswered

4. Westminster City Councilman Bruce Baker briefly sought the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District. What did he say that provoked harsh criticism from fellow Republicans?

• A. “Maybe there’s something to this climate change stuff”
• B. “Ed Perlmutter’s got a point about a lot of things”
• C. “We need to end immigration – all immigration, not just illegal immigration”
• D. “I like to pronounce it ‘Westminister'”

5. In a video interview that quickly went viral, Republican Senate candidate Jon Keyser reminded 7News reporter Marshall Zelinger that he has a dog. What is the dog’s name and breed?

• A. Checkers, a cocker spaniel
• B. Duke, a Great Dane
• C. Aibo, a Japanese robotic dog
• D. Trick question – Keyser has seven aggressive Chihuahuas he calls “Minions”

6. In the interview with Marshall Zelinger, what did Keyser call the 7News reporter?

• A. “Mitchell”
• B. “Li’l Marco”
• C. “El Chapo”
• D. “Marshall”

7. What did Senate candidate Jon Keyser do at a Republican debate in Jefferson County to earn comparisons with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio?

• A. Said an opponent doesn’t sweat “because his pores are clogged from the spray tan”
• B. Repeatedly interrupted the debate to take swigs from a glass of water
• C. Robotically repeated, “I am on the ballot” numerous times
• D. Made a joke about the size of an opponent’s hands

8. Which legislative candidate took inspiration from his or her name for a campaign logo or slogan?

• A. Democratic legislative candidate Matt Gray: “Fifty Shades of Broomfield”
• B. Republican legislative candidate Bob Gardner: Spade, watering can to encourage growth
• C. Democratic legislative candidate Aaron Goldhamer: Gold hammer equals justice
• D. Republican state Rep. Tim Dore: “The Dore to the Future”

9. Who is the only politician U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet mentions in the 13 television ads he’s aired since late spring?

• A. Lake Wobegon Mayor Eloise Krebsbach
• B. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
• C. Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner
• D. President Dwight Eisenhower (“Ike”)

10. In a 9News Republican Senate debate, who did Robert Blaha say was a Democrat he could work with?

• A. James Monroe (“I like his Doctrine”)
• B. Republican opponent Jack Graham
• C. Independence Institute fellow Dave Kopel
• D. “Nary a one”

11. The chair of the Delta County Republican Party resigned this summer after something she posted on Facebook came to light. What did she post?

• A. An excruciatingly detailed “live blog” about watching the Academy Awards
• B. Too many invitations to play Candy Crush
• C. A photo of Ronald Reagan holding a chimpanzee and a bottle of milk with the caption, “I’ll be damned … Reagan used to babysit Obama!”
• D. That “Is the dress blue and black or is it white and gold?” thing for the hundredth time

12. It turned out that Aurora Public Schools board member Eric Nelson, who lost a Democratic primary for a legislative seat, had fabricated a number of items on his resumé. Which of the following did Nelson not list as an accomplishment?

• A. PhD in Organizational Psychology
• B. Life member of the Scottish Rite Foundation for Youth
• C. Retired Air Force officer
• D. Jedi Knight

13. Who is Judy DeSantis?

• A. The Colorado delegate to the Republican National Convention who became the public face of the Never Trump movement
• B. The Republican chosen by a vacancy committee to challenge state Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, after “Bachelor” star Ben Higgins dropped out of the race
• C. A Broomfield Republican who died in January but whose signature showed up on nominating petitions for Senate candidate Jon Keyser months later
• D. The Aurora woman charged with 34 felony counts for forging names on Keyser’s petition

14. Libertarian Senate nominee Lily Tang Williams brought down the house at the Club 20 U.S. Senate debate in Grand Junction when she suggested politicians should be required to do what?

• A. Live for a week on a diet of rats
• B. Actually sit at a kitchen table to balance a household budget
• C. Get by on the median wage of their constituents
• D. Wear body cameras

Match the candidate with his or her day (or night) job from the following list:

15. State Rep. Kit Roupe, R-Colorado Springs

16. 1st Congressional District Republican nominee Casper Stockham

17. State Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Durango

18. Former state Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs

• A. Youth basketball referee
• B. Sheep rancher
• C. Uber and Lyft driver
• D. Pet sitter and dog walker

19. State Sen. Laura Woods, R-Arvada, came under fire when she distributed a brochure that featured her smiling face in front of a photograph of what?

• A. A group of high schoolers saluting a Mexican flag
• B. A pristine lake and mountain range in Alberta, Canada
• C. A custom-built CDR 15 rifle decorated in camouflage colors
• D. An Arvada lawn filled with dandelions

Match the slogan with the ballot measure campaign:

20. Raise the Bar

21. Raise the Rafters

22. No Blank Checks

23. Let Colorado Vote

• A. In favor of Propositions 107 and 108, to establish a presidential primary and let unaffiliated voters participate
• B. In favor of Amendment 71, to make it harder to pass amendments to the state constitution
• C. Opposed to Amendment 72, to raise the tax on tobacco products
• D. Opposed to Amendment 71, to make it harder to pass amendments to the state constitution

24. During a seven-day period in October, which of the following is not a position Republican U.S. Senate nominee Darryl Glenn held regarding Donald Trump?

• A. Said he was among Trump’s strongest supporters, the “captain” of his Colorado team
• B. Called Trump “disqualified from being commander-in-chief” and urged him to quit the race
• C. Said he would vote for Trump “but not endorse” him
• D. Demanded money back for degree from Trump University

25. In an email posted by WikiLeaks purportedly from campaign chairman John Podesta to Hillary Clinton, how does Podesta refer to former Denver mayor and cabinet secretary Federico Peña?

• A. The “Energizer Bunny”
• B. The “former mayor of Aurora”
• C. A “needy Latino”
• D. Someone who “can help us get those ski passes”

26. How did U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn introduce Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, at a rally in Colorado Springs in late October?

• A. “Detroit’s favorite rapper, Eminem!”
• B. “The next president of the United States!”
• C. “My favorite Hoosier!”
• D. “The guy who looks like he’s about to outlaw the X-Men!”