The 2016 United States presidential election was held on November 8, 2016. After a lengthy primary season in both major parties, the general election contest featured Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Incumbent President Barack Obama was ineligible to run for a third term under the Twenty-second Amendment.

Nomination contests

On the Republican side a large field of candidates competed in state primaries and caucuses; Trump emerged as the party's nominee after defeating rivals including Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich. The Republican ticket was presented under the banner of the Republican Party, with Trump selecting as his running mate the then-Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence. The Democratic nomination was won by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, representing the Democratic Party, who selected Senator Tim Kaine as her vice-presidential running mate.

General election campaign

The 2016 campaign covered a wide range of issues including the economy, trade, immigration, national security, and health policy. The campaign featured high-profile debates, extensive media coverage, and significant use of social media and targeted advertising. Third-party and independent campaigns, notably Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, were active in various states and attracted attention in some districts.

Electoral College and outcome

Under the Electoral College system each state appoints electors roughly proportional to its congressional representation, and most states award electors on a winner-take-all basis. In the 2016 contest Donald Trump won a majority of electoral votes and the presidency, receiving 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton's 227. Clinton won the nationwide popular vote by a margin of nearly three million ballots; because the Constitution delegates the choice to the Electoral College, the Electoral College result determined the winner.

Post-election developments and investigations

The period after the election involved recount requests in several close states, litigation, and widespread public debate about election procedures and the Electoral College. U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that the Russian government undertook influence operations intended to affect the election, an assessment that led to multiple inquiries. A special counsel investigation, which drew substantial public attention, examined links between campaign associates and foreign actors and produced indictments, plea agreements, and a detailed report that shaped subsequent congressional and public discussion.

Voter turnout and demographics

Analyses of voting patterns showed shifts in several Midwestern and Rust Belt states that had been competitive or leaned Democratic in prior cycles. Differences in turnout, demographic group preferences, and regional voting margins proved decisive in several states. Researchers, journalists, and nonpartisan institutions conducted detailed post-election studies to understand how age, education, race, and geography influenced the outcome.

Significance and legacy

The 2016 election had immediate and long-term effects on American politics. It intensified debates about the Electoral College, election security, the role of disinformation and foreign interference, and the partisanship of civic institutions. The incoming administration took office on January 20, 2017, beginning a presidency that prompted further political realignment, policy shifts, and sustained public discussion about governance and democratic norms.

Quick facts

For deeper coverage, readers may consult official state results, contemporary reporting, and nonpartisan studies that examined turnout, voting patterns, and the impact of media and foreign influence on the 2016 presidential contest.