Election of 2016 — LLMpedia

Election of 2016
Election name	Election of 2016
Country	United States
Type	Presidential
Previous election	2012 United States presidential election
Previous year	2012
Next election	2020 United States presidential election
Next year	2020
Election date	November 8, 2016
Nominee1	Donald Trump
Party1	Republican Party (United States)
Running mate1	Mike Pence
Nominee2	Hillary Clinton
Party2	Democratic Party (United States)
Running mate2	Tim Kaine

Contents

Election of 2016 was the 58th quadrennial presidential contest in the United States, held on November 8, 2016. The campaign featured candidates from the Republican Party (United States), the Democratic Party (United States), and multiple third-party organizations such as the Libertarian Party (United States) and the Green Party (United States). The outcome had significant effects on relations with Russia, policy toward China, and debates over NATO commitments.

Background and political context

The campaign unfolded during the presidency of Barack Obama and against the backdrop of the Great Recession recovery, debates over Affordable Care Act implementation, and disputes involving the Supreme Court of the United States following the death of Antonin Scalia. Domestic issues included trade disputes with China and Mexico and immigration enforcement concerning Department of Homeland Security. International developments such as the Syrian civil war, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and the Iran nuclear deal also shaped discourse. Prominent institutions and figures in the lead-up included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Reserve System, CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times.

The Republican primaries featured a large field including Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and Ben Carson, with early contests in Iowa and the New Hampshire; the Republican National Convention nominated Donald Trump with running mate Mike Pence. The Democratic nomination contest was chiefly between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, with contests in Nevada and South Carolina; the Democratic National Convention nominated Hillary Clinton with running mate Tim Kaine. State-level organizations such as the Iowa Republican Party and the New York State Democratic Committee administered primaries and caucuses, while figures including DNC chairpersons and stalwarts like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid influenced delegate allocation. Media outlets such as MSNBC and The Washington Post covered debates and Super Tuesday contests across California, Texas, and Massachusetts.

The general election featured three presidential debates moderated by journalists from CNN, ABC News, and CBS News between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, with significant attention from outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker. Campaign themes involved trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, immigration policy toward Mexico, healthcare policy concerning the Affordable Care Act, and foreign policy toward Russia and Syria. Major campaign surrogates included Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Mike Pence, and Sarah Palin; endorsements from figures like Paul Ryan and Elizabeth Warren influenced messaging. Third-party candidates such as Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party (United States) and Jill Stein of the Green Party (United States) participated in debates and ballot access battles in states administered by secretaries of state like Kathy Hochul and John H. Cox.

Voter turnout and demographic analyses relied on data from the United States Census Bureau and exit polls conducted by organizations including Edison Research and Pew Research Center. Coalitions analyzed included suburban voters in Virginia, blue-collar voters in the Midwest Rust Belt states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and minority voters in Florida and Arizona. Young voter participation involved outreach through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, while unions like the AFL–CIO and organizations such as Planned Parenthood mobilized constituencies. Voting procedures in battleground states were overseen by state officials like Earl Ray Tomblin and litigated in courts including the Supreme Court of the United States and federal district courts.

The Electoral College met after the popular vote, allocating votes per state under procedures codified by state constitutions and implemented by secretaries of state across jurisdictions including California Secretary of State and Texas Secretary of State. The final electoral map showed victories in key states such as Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania for the Republican ticket, with the Democratic ticket winning states such as California, New York, and Illinois. Congress convened to certify the electoral votes in a joint session presided over by the Vice President of the United States in January, resulting in the formal declaration of the winner and subsequent transition overseen by the General Services Administration and the Presidential Transition Act processes.

Post-election controversies included investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional committees such as the Senate Intelligence Committee into foreign interference allegations involving entities linked to Russia and cyber incidents like the 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak. Legal scrutiny encompassed inquiries by the Special Counsel and oversight by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Issues of campaign finance prompted attention from the Federal Election Commission and litigation in state courts, while media coverage sparked debates about the role of organizations like Cambridge Analytica and platforms such as Facebook in political advertising and data practices. International reactions came from leaders in United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada and were discussed at institutions like the United Nations and NATO.

Category:United States presidential elections