2016 United States presidential candidates

2016 United States presidential candidates
Election name	2016 United States presidential candidates
Country	United States
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 United States presidential candidates
Previous year	2012
Next election	2020 United States presidential candidates
Next year	2020

2016 United States presidential candidates

The 2016 presidential field featured a large and diverse set of political party nominees, challengers, and insurgent figures who competed across party primaries, caucuses, and the general election. Candidates included established United States Senators, governors, business executives, military veterans, and media personalities who engaged with national institutions such as the Federal Election Commission, the United States Electoral College, and state Secretary of State offices. Major contests unfolded in early voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, producing nominees who faced debates hosted by networks including CNN, Fox News, and NBC News.

Overview

The cycle began with exploratory committees and formal bids announced during 2015, involving figures from the Republican Party (United States), the Democratic Party (United States), and multiple third parties and independents. Prominent entrants included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and businessman Donald Trump, while other high-profile participants included Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, and Jill Stein. The campaign season intersected with institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation following an investigation into Clinton's email practices, and with media outlets covering paid advertisements, debates, and rallies. The landscape was influenced by external actors including WikiLeaks releases and discussions about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.

Major party candidates

On the Democratic side, the main contenders were Hillary Clinton, former First Lady of the United States and former United States Senator from New York, and Bernie Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont and self-described Democratic Socialist activist associated with movements linked to Occupy Wall Street. Clinton secured endorsements from figures like Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and organizations including the Democratic National Committee. On the Republican side, the field included Donald Trump, a business executive and television producer with prior association to entities like The Trump Organization and The Apprentice; Ted Cruz, United States Senator from Texas; Marco Rubio, United States Senator from Florida; John Kasich, Governor of Ohio; Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida and member of the Bush family; and others such as Ben Carson and Chris Christie. The Republican National Committee organized the nomination process culminating at the Republican National Convention, 2016 and the Democrats held the Democratic National Convention, 2016.

Third-party and independent candidates

Third-party and independent campaigns included Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico representing the Libertarian Party (United States), Jill Stein of the Green Party (United States), and independent bids like that of Evan McMullin, a conservative former Central Intelligence Agency officer who ran as an alternative in the Mountain West. Additional minor-party figures included candidates from the Constitution Party (United States), the Peace and Freedom Party, and state-level parties that sought ballot access through state election laws administered by offices such as the Ohio Secretary of State and the California Secretary of State. Many third-party campaigns emphasized ballot access litigation in courts including state supreme courts and federal district courts.

Primary and caucus contests

The nomination calendars featured early contests in Iowa, the New Hampshire primary, the Nevada caucuses, and the South Carolina primary, followed by the multi-state Super Tuesday contests. The Democratic contest highlighted delegate math governed by the Democratic National Committee rules and superdelegates tied to figures like DNC Chairpersons, while Republican accumulation of delegates followed rules set by state parties and the Republican National Committee. Primary television debates occurred on stages organized with partners such as ABC News, CBS News, and MSNBC. Vote tabulation was overseen by state election officials and, in disputed jurisdictions, by recount procedures similar to those in Florida during earlier cycles.

Campaigns and platforms

Campaign platforms spanned issues tied to policy debates involving legislation and institutions: trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership; tax policy influenced by think tanks such as the Tax Policy Center; health policy discussions referencing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and foreign policy positions concerning relations with NATO, China, Russia, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Candidates presented divergent stances on immigration with references to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and border security, on criminal justice reform with attention to cases in New York and California, and on energy policy involving Environmental Protection Agency regulations and Keystone XL Pipeline debates. Campaigns used political action committees like Super PACs and committees registered with the Federal Election Commission to raise funds, with prominent donor networks including the Soros family network and conservative donors linked to Club for Growth and the National Rifle Association.

Ballot access and endorsements

Ballot access battles involved state filings, petition drives in states like Texas and Pennsylvania, and litigation in federal courts. Major endorsements influenced momentum: Democratic endorsements from Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and labor unions including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Republican endorsements from party officials and governors such as Paul Ryan and Rick Perry. Newspaper endorsements played roles, with editorials from outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and regional papers. Third-party access was shaped by state ballot rules that affected parties including the Libertarian Party (United States) and the Green Party (United States).

Election results and nominee selection

The general election concluded with the 2016 presidential election in November. The Electoral College cast decisive votes after state certification processes run by secretaries of state and state canvassing boards. The outcome produced a major-party ticket determined at the Republican National Convention, 2016 and the Democratic National Convention, 2016, and subsequent transitions involving the United States Congress and the National Security Council for administration planning. Post-election analyses referenced agencies such as the Intelligence Community (United States) in evaluating foreign influence and set the stage for debates carried into the 2020 cycle involving many of the same institutions and figures.

Category:2016 United States presidential election candidates