custom search results – order results differently by post type

The below should loop your post types and only insert the header once if it has a post for that post type. I am sure there is a lot better ways to code this cleaner but this should work * I have not tested only coded in this page.

I am not sure about the ordering of the custom post type attribute as I do not know that plugin and your query looks to be correct might be worth trying without the _ as I have done this in Advanced Custom Fields and did not require the _ .

would be worth checking your database as I know advanced custom fields saves dates like this 03212017 and WordPress might not be able to see this as a valid date.

  if (have_posts()) :


    $counter = 1;
    $post_counter_1 = 0;
    $post_counter_2 = 0;
    $post_counter_3 = 0;


    while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();

    // Get post type to display
    if(get_post_type() == 'post'){
        // run once for creating header
       if($post_counter_1 == 0)
       {
        $post_counter_1 = 1;
        echo '<h4><i class="fa fa-newspaper-o"></i> Articles</h4>';
       }
       echo '<div class="results post">';
       get_template_part('parts/search', 'post');

    }
endwhile;
while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
    if(get_post_type() == 'tribe_events'){

       if($post_counter_2 == 0)
       {
         $post_counter_2 = 1;
         echo '<h4><i class="fa fa-truck"></i> Distributors Wanted</h4>';
       }
       echo '<div class="results tribe_events">';
       get_template_part('parts/search', 'tribe_events');
    }
endwhile;

while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
    if(get_post_type() == 'distribute'){

       if($post_counter_3 == 0)
       {
         $post_counter_3 = 1;
         echo '<h4 class="events">Events</h4>';
       }
      echo '<div class="results distribute">';
      get_template_part('parts/search', 'distribute');
    }
endwhile;
endif;