2016 United States presidential election

The 2016 United States presidential election was the 58th presidential election that was held on November 8, 2016. Businessman Donald Trump and Indiana Governor Mike Pence defeated former U.S. secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. senator Tim Kaine on the Republican Party ticket.

Then-incumbent President Barack Obama was term limited by the Twenty-second amendment, which made him unable to serve a third presidential term. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton won the Democratic nomination. Trump became his party's front-runner against many candidates in the Republican primary, defeating Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, and Ohio Governor John Kasich among other candidates.

Many third-party candidates ran, such as Gary Johnson. Trump chose Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate, and Clinton chose U.S. senator Tim Kaine as her running mate.

Trump received 304 electoral votes, 34 more votes than what was needed to win, while Clinton received 227. Even though Trump lost the popular vote, the electoral votes decide the actual winner of the election. Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

 Background 
Article Two of the United States Constitution says that for a person to be elected and serve as President of the United States, they must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for a period of no less than 14 years.

Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the various political parties of the United States, in which case each party devises a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf.

President Barack Obama was unable to seek re-election for a third term because of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that a president may only serve up to two terms. His term as president ended at noon eastern standard time on January 20, 2017.

Democratic Party

Nominees
65px|center|link=Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party (United States)Democratic Party Ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px 67thU.S. Secretary of State(2009–2013) U.S. Senator from Virginia(2013-present)Campaigncenter|275px

Withdrawn candidates
Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the primaries Bernie Sanders Rocky De La Fuente Martin O'Malley Lawrence Lessig Lincoln Chafee Jim Webbcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxU.S. Senator from Vermont (2007–present)Entrepreneur(1979–present)61stGovernor of Maryland(2007–2015)Harvard Law Professor(2009–2016)74thGovernor of Rhode Island(2011–2015)U.S. Senatorfrom Virginia(2007–2013)CampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignLN: July 26, 201613,167,848 primary votes and 1,846 delegatesLN: July 26, 201667,457 primary votes W: February 1, 2016110,423 votesW: November 2, 20154 write-in votes in New HampshireW: October 23, 20150 votesW: October 20, 20152 write-in votes in New HampshireYglesias, Matthew (February 1, 2016) "Iowa Results: Martin O'Malley drops out after third place finish", Vox.com. Retrieved February 1, 2016.Merica, Dan; LoBianco, Tom (October 23, 2015) "Lincoln Chafee drops out of Democratic primary race", CNN.com. Retrieved October 23, 2015Walsh, Michael (October 20, 2015) "Jim Webb drops out of Democratic primary race", Yahoo! Politics. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

Republican Party

65px|center|link=Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party (United States)Republican Party Ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President  center|200x200px Chairman of The Trump Organization(1971–2017) 50thGovernor of Indiana(2013-2017)Campaigncenter|275px 

Withdrawn candidates

Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from race John Kasich Ted Cruz Marco Rubio Ben Carson Jeb Bush Jim Gilmore Carly Fiorina Chris Christiecenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120px69thGovernor of Ohio(2011–present)U.S. Senatorfrom Texas(2013–present)U.S. Senatorfrom Florida(2011–present)Dir. of Pediatric Neurosurgery,Johns Hopkins Hospital(1984–2013)43rdGovernor of Florida(1999–2007)68thGovernor of Virginia(1998–2002)CEO of Hewlett-Packard(1999–2005)55thGovernor of New Jersey(2010–present)CampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignW: May 4W: May 3W: Mar 15W: Mar 4W: Feb 20W: Feb 12W: Feb 10W: Feb 10Nelson, Rebecca (April 13, 2015) "Marco Rubio Makes His Pitch as the Fresh Face of the GOP in 2016", National Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2015.Rand PaulRick SantorumMike HuckabeeGeorge PatakiLindsey GrahamBobby JindalScott WalkerRick Perrycenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxU.S. Senatorfrom Kentucky(2011–present)U.S. Senatorfrom Pennsylvania(1995–2007)44thGovernor of Arkansas(1996–2007)53rdGovernor of New York(1995–2006)U.S. Senator from South Carolina(2003–present)55thGovernor of Louisiana(2008–2016)45thGovernor of Wisconsin(2011–present)47thGovernor of Texas(2000–2015)CampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignW: Feb 3W: Feb 3W: Feb 1W: Dec 29, 2015W: Dec 21, 2015W: Nov 17, 2015W: Sept 21, 2015W: Sept 11, 2015Jaffe, Alexandra (June 1, 2015) "Graham bets on foreign experience in White House bid announcement", CNN.  Retrieved June 1, 2015.

 Major third parties 
 Libertarian Party 

Ballot access to all 538 electoral votes /  /  /  /  / DC Board of Elections – Candidate List

 Nominees 
Libertarian Party Ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px 29thGovernor of New Mexico(1995–2003) 68thGovernor of Massachusetts(1991-1997)Campaigncenter|275px"Gary Johnson FEC filing", FEC.gov.

 Withdrawn candidates 
 Robert David Steele, activist and author from Virginia; candidate for the Reform Party's nomination in 2012. Suspended campaign on January 6, 2016
 Marc Allan Feldman, Anesthesiologist at The Cleveland Clinic (since 1998). Suspended after convention
 John McAfee, businessman and computer scientist, founder of McAfee. Suspended after convention"John McAfee FEC filing", FEC.gov.
 Austin Petersen, businessman and founder and CEO of Stonegait, LLC. Suspended after convention. Endorsed Gary Johnson"Austin Petersen FEC filing", FEC.gov.
 Vermin Supreme, performance artist and activist; candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination in 2012 and 2016. Suspended after convention.Presidential Candidate Switches to the Libertarian Party

 Constitution Party 

Ballot access to 207 electoral votes (451 with write-in): – thumb|right|300px|
 As write-in: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia
 No ballot access: California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma
Nominees
 Constitution Party ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px Attorneyfrom Memphis, Tennessee Businessmanfrom UtahCampaignFile:Castle 2016 logo, flat.png

 Green Party 

Ballot access to 493(451) electoral votes: Ballot access currently in process: North Dakota, Rhode Island, Wyoming

States currently under litigation for ballot access: Nevada, Oklahoma

States with no ballot access: South Dakota As write-in:  Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina.

Nominees

175px|center|link=Green Party (United States)|Green Party (United States)<big>Presumptive Green Party Ticket, 2016</big>
|-
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| style="width:3em; width:200px;"|for Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|x200px Physicianfrom Lexington, Massachusetts Activistfrom Washington, D.C.Campaigncenter|275px

 Other active candidates 
 Darryl Cherney, Earth First! organizer and musician from California
 Sedinam Curry, 29th People's National Convention organizer from California
 William Kreml, Professor Emeritus of University of South Carolina from South Carolina. Endorsed Jill Stein
 Kent Mesplay, Inspector at the Air Pollution Control District of San Diego County (2001-2015) from California. Endorsed Jill Stein

 Withdrawn candidates 
 Midge Potts, transgender peace activist from Missouri. Suspended campaign during primaries

 American Delta Party and Reform Party 

Ballot access to 147 electoral votes (305 with write-in)
 On the ballot: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
 As write-in: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
 No ballot access: California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
American Delta Party and Reform Party ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President  center|200x200px Business Tycoon  Lawyer from FloridaCampaigncenter|275px

 Independents 

Ballot access to 84 electoral votes (451 with write-in):
 As write-in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
 No ballot access: District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming
Independent ticket, 2016  for Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px Chief policy director for the House Republican Conference  President ofEmpowered Women(2015–present)Campaigncenter|275px

 Other parties 
 American Freedom Party 
Ballot Access to 6 electoral votes: Mississippi"American Freedom Party Becomes a Qualified Party in Mississippi", Ballot Access News. August 12, 2015.
 Bob Whitaker, white nationalist and paleoconservative political activist from South Carolina."Kenn Gividen Steps Down as American Freedom Party Presidential Nominee, Bob Whitaker to Take His Place at the Top of the Ticket", Independent Political Report. July 26, 2015. Vice-presidential nominee: Tom Bowie, from Maryland

 Independent American Party 
Ballot Access to 18 Electoral Votes: New Mexico, Oregon, Utah
 Farley Anderson, activist from Utah. Vice Presidential nominee: Vacant

 Party for Socialism and Liberation 
Ballot Access to 29 electoral votes: Florida
 Gloria La Riva, newspaper printer and activist from New Mexico; 2008 presidential nominee; vice-presidential nominee: Eugene Puryear

 Prohibition Party 

Ballot Access to 21 electoral votes: Arkansas, Colorado, Mississippi
 James Hedges, Tax Assessor for Thompson Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania 2002–2007; vice-presidential nominee: Bill Bayes of Mississippi

 Peace and Freedom Party & Party of Socialism and Liberation 
Ballot Access to 84 electoral votes: California, Florida
 Gloria La Riva, newspaper printer and activist, from New Mexico

 Socialist Party USA 
Ballot Access to 0 electoral votes
 Mimi Soltysik, former National Co-chair of the Socialist Party USA from California;  vice-presidential nominee: Angela Walker of Wisconsin

 Nutrition Party 
Ballot Access to 9 electoral votes: Colorado
 Rod Silva, restaurateur from New Jersey; Vice-presidential nominee: Vacant

 Veterans Party of America 
Ballot Access to 6 electoral votes: Mississippi
 Chris Keniston, reliability engineer from Texas; vice-presidential nominee: Deacon Taylor of Nevada

 Workers World Party 
Ballot Access to 0 electoral votes
 Monica Moorehead, perennial candidate and activist from New Jersey; vice-Presidential nominee: Lamont Lilly

Battleground states
Battleground states during the election were: Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio and North Carolina. Trump won Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and a congressional district in Maine. Clinton won Nevada, New Hampshire and Maine. Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were seen as likely 'Blue' states, but Trump won all three states in what was seen as a political upset.

Party conventions

 Democratic Party

 July 25–28, 2016: Democratic National Convention to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Republican Party

 July 18–21, 2016: Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio."RNC officially approves Cleveland as 2016 convention host", CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 14, 2014.Isenstadt, Alex (January 14, 2014)  "GOP convention set for July 18–21 in 2016", Politico. Retrieved January 15, 2015.

 Green Party

 August 4–7, 2016: Green National Convention was held in Houston, Texas.Winger, Richard (August 2, 2015) "Green Party Will Hold Presidential Convention in Houston", Ballot Access News. Retrieved August 5, 2015.

Libertarian Party

 May 26–30, 2016: Libertarian National Convention to be held in Orlando, Florida.

 Constitution Party

 April 13–16, 2016: Constitution Party National Convention was held in Salt Lake City, Utah.Mills, Glen (April 14, 2016) "The Constitution Party hosts national convention in Salt Lake City" , Good4Utah. Retrieved September 14, 2016.

 Reform Party

 July 29–31, 2016: Reform Party National Convention was held in Bohemia, New York.Ballotpedia . Retrieved October 29, 2019.

Debates
On April 1, 2015, the Commission on Presidential Debates a (CPD) announced that each of the following 16 locations are under consideration to host one of the three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate:
 Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee
 Birmingham, Alabama
 Dominican University of California in San Rafael, California
 Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky
 Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia
 Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
 Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida
 Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia
 State University of New York Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York
 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
 Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
 West Virginia University and West Virginia State University in Charleston, West Virginia
 Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio
 Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
 Houston Community College in Houston, Texas
 McAllen, Texas

The three locations which will host the presidential debates and the one location selected to host the vice presidential debate are to be announced by the CPD in the fall of 2015.

 Results 

CandidatePartyVotes%Electoral votesDonald TrumpRepublican62,984,82546.09%304Hillary ClintonDemocratic65,853,51648.18%227Gary JohnsonLibertarian4,489,2213.28%0Jill SteinGreen Party1,457,2161.07%0Evan McMullinIndependent731,7880.54%0Darrell CastleConstitution203,0100.15%0Gloria La RivaPeace and Freedom74,3920.05%0Rocky De La FuenteReform Party of the United States of America33,1360.03%0Richard DuncanIndependent24,3080%0Dan VacekLegal Marijuana Now Party13,5380%0Alyson KennedySocialist Workers Party12,4670%0Chris KenistonVeterans Party of America7,2510%0Mike MaturenAmerican Solidarity Party6,7970%0James HedgesProhibition Party5,6170%0Tom HoeflingAmerica's Party4,8560%0Monica MooreheadWorkers World Party4,3190%0Laurence KotlikoffIndependent3,6030%0Peter SkewesAmerican Party3,2460%0Rocky GiordaniIndependent American Party2,7520%0Mimi SoltysikSocialist Party USA2,7050%0Rod SilvaNutrition Party7510%0Jerome WhiteSocialist Equality Party3820%0Total136,669,237100%538

 Margin of victory 
 Blue shows Clinton's margin of victory over Trump, while red shows Trump's margin of victory over Clinton.

StateTrump %Clinton %MarginAlabama62.1%34.4%27.7%Alaska51.3%36.6%14.7%Arizona48.7%45.1%3.6%Arkansas60.6%33.7%26.9%California31.6%61.7%30.1%Colorado43.3%48.2%4.9%Connecticut40.9%54.6%13.7%Delaware41.7%53.1%11.4%District of Columbia4.1%90.5%86.4%Florida49.0%47.8%1.2%Georgia50.8%45.6%5.2%Hawaii30.0%62.2%32.2%Idaho59.3%27.5%31.8%Illinois38.8%55.8%17.0%Indiana56.8%37.9%18.9%Iowa51.2%41.7%9.5%Kansas56.7%36.1%20.6%Kentucky62.5%32.7%29.8%Louisiana58.1%38.5%19.6%Maine44.9%47.8%2.9%Maryland33.9%60.3%26.4%Massachusetts32.8%60.0%27.2%Michigan47.5%47.3%0.2%Minnesota44.9%46.4%1.5%Mississippi57.9%40.1%17.8%Missouri56.8%38.1%18.7%Montana56.2%35.8%20.4%Nebraska58.8%33.7%25.1%Nevada45.5%47.9%2.4%New Hampshire46.6%47.0%0.4%New Jersey41.0%55.0%14.0%New Mexico40.0%48.3%8.3%New York36.5%59.0%22.5%North Carolina49.8%46.2%3.6%North Dakota63.0%27.2%35.8%Ohio51.7%43.6%8.1%Oklahoma65.3%28.9%36.4%Oregon39.1%50.1%11.0%Pennsylvania48.2%47.5%0.7%Rhode Island38.9%54.4%15.5%South Carolina54.9%40.7%14.2%South Dakota61.5%31.7%29.8%Tennessee60.7%34.7%26.0%Texas52.2%43.2%9.0%Utah45.5%27.5%18.0%Vermont30.3%56.7%26.4%Virginia44.4%49.7%5.3%Washington36.8%52.5%15.7%West Virginia68.5%26.4%42.1%Wisconsin47.2%46.5%0.7%Wyoming67.4%21.6%45.8%

The following table shows the swing in each state compared to the 2012 election.

State2016 Rep %2012 Rep %2016 Dem %2012 Dem %Rep ChangeDem ChangeAlabama62.1%60.6%34.4%38.4%+1.5%–4.0%Alaska51.3%54.8%36.6%40.8%–3.5%–4.2%Arizona48.7%53.7%45.1%44.6%–5.0%+0.5%Arkansas60.6%60.6%33.7%36.9%0.0%–3.2%California31.6%37.1%61.7%60.2%–5.5%+1.5%Colorado43.3%46.1%48.2%51.5%–2.8%–3.3%Connecticut40.9%40.7%54.6%58.1%+0.2%–3.5%Delaware41.7%40.0%53.1%58.6%+1.7%–5.5%District of Columbia4.1%7.3%90.5%90.9%–3.2%–0.4%Florida49.0%49.1%47.8%50.0%–0.1%–2.2%Georgia50.8%53.3%45.6%45.5%–2.5%+0.1%Hawaii30.0%27.8%62.2%70.6%+2.2%–8.4%Idaho59.3%64.5%27.5%32.6%–5.2%–5.1%Illinois38.8%40.7%55.8%57.6%–1.9%–1.8%Indiana56.8%54.1%37.9%43.9%+2.7%–6.0%Iowa51.2%46.2%41.7%52.0%+5.0%–10.3%Kansas56.7%59.7%36.1%38.0%–3.0%–1.9%Kentucky62.5%60.5%32.7%37.8%+2.0%–5.1%Louisiana58.1%57.8%38.5%40.6%+0.3%–2.1%Maine44.9%41.0%47.8%56.3%+3.9%–8.5%Maryland33.9%35.9%60.3%62.0%–2.0%–1.7%Massachusetts32.8%37.5%60.0%60.7%–4.7%–0.7%Michigan47.5%44.7%47.3%54.2%+2.8%–6.9%Minnesota44.9%45.0%46.4%52.7%–0.1%–6.3%Mississippi57.9%55.3%40.1%43.8%+2.6%–3.7%Missouri56.8%53.8%38.1%44.4%+3.0%–6.3%Montana56.2%55.4%35.8%41.7%+0.8%–5.9%Nebraska58.8%59.8%33.7%38.0%–1.0%–4.3%Nevada45.5%45.7%47.9%52.4%–0.2%–4.5%New Hampshire46.6%46.4%47.0%52.0%+0.2%–5.0%New Jersey41.0%40.6%55.0%58.4%+0.4%–3.4%New Mexico40.0%42.8%48.3%53.0%–2.8%–4.7%New York36.5%35.2%59.0%63.4%+1.3%–4.4%North Carolina49.8%50.4%46.2%48.4%–0.6%–2.2%North Dakota63.0%58.3%27.2%38.7%+4.7%–11.5%Ohio51.7%47.7%43.6%50.7%+4.0%–7.1%Oklahoma65.3%66.8%28.9%33.2%–1.5%–4.3%Oregon39.1%42.2%50.1%54.2%–3.1%–4.1%Pennsylvania48.2%46.6%47.5%52.0%+1.6%–4.5%Rhode Island38.9%35.2%54.4%62.7%+3.7%–8.3%South Carolina54.9%54.6%40.7%44.1%+0.3%–3.4%South Dakota61.5%57.9%31.7%39.9%+3.6%–8.2%Tennessee60.7%59.5%34.7%39.1%+1.2%–4.4%Texas52.2%57.2%43.2%41.4%–5.0%+1.8%Utah45.5%72.8%27.5%24.8%–27.3%+2.7%Vermont30.3%31.0%56.7%66.6%–0.7%–9.9%Virginia44.4%47.3%49.7%51.2%–2.9%–1.5%Washington36.8%41.3%52.5%56.2%–4.5%–3.7%West Virginia68.5%62.3%26.4%35.5%+6.2%–9.1%Wisconsin47.2%45.9%46.5%52.8%+1.3%–6.3%Wyoming67.4%68.6%21.6%27.8%–1.2%–6.2%Total46.1%47.2%48.2%51.1%–1.1%–2.9%

Notes

References

Other websites
 2016 Presidential Form 2 Filers  at the Federal Election Commission (FEC)


United States presidential election