Presidential election of 2016

Presidential election of 2016
Election name	United States presidential election, 2016
Country	United States
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 United States presidential election
Next election	2020 United States presidential election
Election date	November 8, 2016
Nominee1	Donald Trump
Party1	Republican Party
Home state1	New York
Running mate1	Mike Pence
Electoral vote1	304
Nominee2	Hillary Clinton
Party2	Democratic Party
Home state2	New York
Running mate2	Tim Kaine
Electoral vote2	227

Contents

Presidential election of 2016 The presidential election of 2016 was the 58th quadrennial United States presidential election that concluded on November 8, 2016, resulting in a victory for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. The campaign featured extensive involvement from figures such as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and institutions including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Electoral College. The election's outcome prompted debates involving actors like Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, and international leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel.

Background and political context

In the run-up to the election, policy debates invoked prior presidencies including George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and drew on legislative legacies like the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Economic indicators referenced by campaigns included data from the Federal Reserve and reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while foreign policy controversies recalled events such as the Iraq War and the Syrian civil war. Prominent interest groups such as the National Rifle Association, Planned Parenthood, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and labor unions including the AFL–CIO played visible roles, as did advocacy organizations like MoveOn.org and Citizens United-related entities. Media institutions including The New York Times, Fox News Channel, CNN, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal shaped public perception alongside polling organizations such as Gallup, Pew Research Center, and FiveThirtyEight.

The Republican nomination contest featured candidates from diverse backgrounds: Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, and Mike Huckabee, with debates hosted by organizations including CNN and Fox News. Donald Trump's insurgent campaign emphasized outreach to voters connected to regions like Rust Belt states including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and leveraged advisors such as Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway. The Democratic primary centered on Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, with endorsements from figures like Elizabeth Warren, Dianne Feinstein, Tim Kaine, and Nancy Pelosi influencing outcomes in state contests including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. Party organizations such as the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee administered nominating processes including state primaries and caucuses pursuant to party rules.

The general election featured campaigns organized by the Trump campaign and the Clinton campaign, with strategic operations in swing states including Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Debates over trade invoked references to agreements like North American Free Trade Agreement and figures such as Robert Lighthizer and Hillary Clinton's prior tenure as United States Secretary of State. Voter mobilization efforts included initiatives by Organizing for Action, Emily's List, Black Lives Matter, and grassroots groups like Our Revolution. Campaign finance dynamics involved entities such as Super PACs including Priorities USA Action, Make America Great Again Committee, and donors including Sheldon Adelson and Tom Steyer. International reactions came from governments of United Kingdom, Russia, China, and organizations such as the European Union and NATO.

Major debates included three presidential debates moderated by journalists from CNN, ABC News, and NBC News, and one vice-presidential debate featuring Mike Pence and Tim Kaine. Media coverage was dominated by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and Bloomberg News, with social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube serving as channels for campaign messaging. Investigative reporting by organizations such as ProPublica, BuzzFeed, Reuters, and Associated Press intersected with actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and disclosures involving WikiLeaks. Celebrity endorsements and cultural figures including Oprah Winfrey, Jay Z, Kanye West, and Bruce Springsteen influenced public discussion, as did commentary from pundits like Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow.

The Electoral College certified Donald Trump as president-elect after victories in key states including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, while Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote, with analyses produced by FiveThirtyEight, Cook Political Report, RealClearPolitics, and the Pew Research Center. Exit polls conducted by CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal examined demographic patterns among voters such as age cohorts, racial groups, and union membership in states like Ohio and Florida. The role of third-party candidates including Gary Johnson and Jill Stein was assessed alongside ballot access litigation in states administered by secretaries of state like those of Michigan and Wisconsin. Academic analyses from institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, and Princeton University contributed to post-election scholarly literature.

The transition process involved the General Services Administration, meetings at Trump Tower and Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and coordination with the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Defense for national security briefings. President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump participated in formal ceremonies and briefings, and nominees for cabinet positions such as Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Steven Mnuchin, and Ben Carson underwent Senate confirmation processes presided over by committees chaired by senators including Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein. International leaders including Shinzo Abe, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, and Angela Merkel issued statements, while protests and demonstrations occurred in cities such as Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles.

Post-election scrutiny involved inquiries into alleged foreign interference led by agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, with congressional oversight by committees including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Investigations touched on interactions involving individuals such as Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, and Jared Kushner, and were later pursued by a special counsel, Robert Mueller. Legal proceedings and filings in federal courts engaged judges appointed by presidents including John Roberts and litigants represented before the United States Supreme Court and lower federal courts. Civil actions and Freedom of Information Act requests involved organizations like ACLU and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Category:United States presidential elections