2016 United States presidential election

2016 United States presidential election
Gage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Election name	2016 United States presidential election
Country	United States
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 United States presidential election
Next election	2020 United States presidential election

2016 United States presidential election was the 58th quadrennial presidential election, held on November 8, 2016, between Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton, Republican Party nominee Donald Trump, Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson, and Green Party nominee Jill Stein. The election was marked by a highly polarized and divisive campaign, with Barack Obama, the incumbent President of the United States, being term-limited and unable to seek re-election. The candidates participated in several debates, including the Commission on Presidential Debates-sponsored debates, which were moderated by Lester Holt, Martha Raddatz, and Chris Wallace. The election was also influenced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigation into Hillary Clinton's email controversy, led by James Comey.

Background

The 2016 United States presidential election was held against the backdrop of a highly polarized political landscape, with the Tea Party movement and the Occupy Wall Street movement having contributed to the growing divide between Republican and Democratic voters. The election was also influenced by the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which allowed for increased spending by Super PACs such as Priorities USA Action and American Crossroads. The candidates' positions on issues such as Obamacare, climate change, and immigration reform were shaped by the policies of the Obama administration, including the Affordable Care Act and the DREAM Act. The election was also marked by the involvement of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Candidates

The major candidates in the election included Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady of the United States, United States Secretary of State, and United States Senator from New York; Donald Trump, a businessman and reality television star; Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico and Libertarian Party nominee; and Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee and a physician. Other notable candidates included Bernie Sanders, a United States Senator from Vermont and Democratic Party primary candidate; Ted Cruz, a United States Senator from Texas and Republican Party primary candidate; and John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio and Republican Party primary candidate. The candidates were endorsed by various organizations, including the National Rifle Association, the AFL-CIO, and the Sierra Club.

Campaigns

The campaigns of the major candidates were marked by controversy and scandal, including Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigration to the United States and Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her tenure as United States Secretary of State. The candidates also participated in several debates, including the Republican Party presidential debates, 2016 and the Democratic Party presidential debates, 2016, which were moderated by CNN, Fox News, and NBC News. The campaigns were also influenced by the involvement of Super PACs such as Priorities USA Action and American Crossroads, which spent millions of dollars on advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. The candidates' campaigns were managed by experienced operatives, including Robby Mook, Kellyanne Conway, and Paul Manafort.

Primaries

The Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016 and the Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016 were highly contested, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination. The Democratic Party primary was marked by a close contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, with Clinton ultimately winning the nomination. The Republican Party primary was marked by a large field of candidates, with Donald Trump ultimately winning the nomination. The primaries were influenced by the caucus system, which was used in states such as Iowa and Nevada, and the primary election system, which was used in states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina. The candidates' performances in the primaries were covered by news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Politico.

General_Election

The general election was marked by a highly polarized and divisive campaign, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton engaging in a series of heated debates and exchanges. The election was also influenced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigation into Hillary Clinton's email controversy, which was led by James Comey. The candidates' positions on issues such as trade policy, health care, and national security were shaped by the policies of the Obama administration, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Iran nuclear deal. The election was also marked by the involvement of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Senate Intelligence Committee. The candidates' campaigns were supported by various organizations, including the Democratic National Committee, the Republican National Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.

Aftermath

The outcome of the election was marked by controversy and surprise, with Donald Trump winning the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. The election was also marked by allegations of voter suppression and election hacking, which were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security. The election had significant implications for the Supreme Court of the United States, with Trump appointing Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the court. The election also had significant implications for the United States Congress, with the Republican Party maintaining control of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The election was covered by news organizations, including CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, and was analyzed by experts, including Nate Silver and Larry Sabato.

Category:United States presidential elections