The election of 2016 was one of the most shocking and divisive presidential races in American history. Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State, became the first woman ever nominated by a major party. Facing her was Donald Trump, a billionaire businessman, WWE Hall of Famer, and reality TV star with no prior political or military experience. Their bitter contest exposed deep fractures in the American electorate and ended with a stunning result that few pollsters or analysts predicted.
The End of the Obama Era
As Barack Obama’s presidency wound down, his approval rating hovered around 55–60%, a relatively strong position for a departing president. He had overseen a slow but steady recovery from the Great Recession, enacted the Affordable Care Act, and taken landmark stances on LGBTQ rights. In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, a decision Obama strongly supported. He also worked to reform criminal justice, commuting sentences for non-violent offenders, and moved to halt the Keystone XL pipeline while tightening environmental protections.
Foreign policy defined much of his second term. Obama restored diplomatic relations with Cuba, brokered the Iran nuclear deal, and ordered the continued use of drone strikes in the Middle East. But his handling of Syria’s civil war, Libya’s collapse, and the rise of ISIS drew criticism. Meanwhile, the Senate’s refusal to consider his Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, underscored the intense partisan divide as the 2016 election approached.
The Democratic Primary: Clinton vs. Sanders
With Vice President Joe Biden declining to run after the death of his son, Hillary Clinton entered as the clear Democratic frontrunner. Her long résumé — First Lady, Senator from New York, Secretary of State — gave her unmatched experience.
But Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders mounted an unexpectedly strong challenge. Running on the slogan “Not Me. Us.” Sanders called for Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, and aggressive action against Wall Street. His grassroots, small-dollar fundraising drew millions of young and progressive voters, creating the party’s sharpest generational divide in decades.
Clinton ultimately won the nomination with strong support among women, minorities, and party elites. Controversies emerged when WikiLeaks released hacked Democratic National Committee emails suggesting favoritism toward Clinton. Former interim chair Donna Brazile later admitted Clinton’s campaign had outsized control over party operations. Despite the turbulence, Clinton clinched the nomination, making history as the first woman chosen by a major U.S. party. She selected Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate.
The Republican Primary: Trump’s Rise
The Republican field was crowded with establishment heavyweights: Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and more. Yet Donald Trump, known for real estate deals and The Apprentice, captured headlines with his blunt rhetoric, populist appeals, and knack for dominating the media cycle.
Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” resonated with working-class voters frustrated by globalization, immigration, and cultural change. He attacked rivals with derisive nicknames — “Low Energy Jeb,” “Little Marco,” “Lyin’ Ted” — and broke every campaign norm while gaining billions in free media coverage.
Despite skepticism from Republican elites, Trump won state after state, fueled by strong support from white working-class voters in the Rust Belt and rural America. He sealed the nomination and chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate to reassure evangelicals and traditional conservatives.
Third-Party Candidates
Discontent with both Clinton and Trump gave third-party candidates unusual attention. Libertarian Gary Johnson campaigned on cutting government and legalizing marijuana, while Green Party nominee Jill Stein focused on environmental and progressive causes. Conservative independent Evan McMullin ran in Utah, targeting disaffected Republicans. None won electoral votes, though Johnson finished third in the popular vote.
Campaign Strategies and Debates
Clinton ran on “Stronger Together,” highlighting experience, competence, and her ability to continue Obama’s progress. Her strategy relied on mobilizing women, minorities, and suburban voters. Trump embraced anti-establishment populism, promising to “Drain the Swamp,” renegotiate NAFTA and TPP, impose stricter immigration laws, and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The three presidential debates drew record audiences. Polls showed viewers thought Clinton “won” each debate, but Trump’s aggressive, norm-breaking style kept him at the center of attention. In the second debate, coming just after the Access Hollywood tape release, Trump loomed over Clinton on stage — an image that went viral. Clinton, meanwhile, faced criticism for her handling of classified emails while serving as Secretary of State.
October Surprises
The race was rocked by late-breaking scandals.
- Trump: On October 7, the Access Hollywood tape surfaced, featuring Trump boasting about groping women. Many Republicans briefly distanced themselves, though Trump refused to drop out.
- Clinton: Days later, FBI Director James Comey announced the reopening of the email investigation, citing newly discovered messages on aide Huma Abedin’s laptop. Although he reaffirmed Clinton’s innocence just before Election Day, the damage was done.
Meanwhile, WikiLeaks released hacked emails from Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, fueling further distrust.
The Election of 2016 Results
On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump stunned the world. Despite losing the popular vote to Clinton by nearly three million ballots (48.2% to 46.1%), he captured 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227, becoming the fifth president to win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.
Trump flipped Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin — states Democrats had carried since the 1980s — largely thanks to support from white working-class voters. Clinton held urban centers, minorities, and young voters but underperformed in key swing states. Third-party candidates drew notable protest votes, particularly in tight states like Michigan and Wisconsin.
Turnout was about 56%, slightly higher than in 2012.
A Historic Outcome
Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president marked a seismic shift in U.S. politics. At 70, he became the oldest first-term president, as well as the first with no prior political or military experience. His victory shocked pollsters, political elites, and much of the world.
The election of 2016 underscored the polarization of American society: an urban-rural, multicultural vs. traditional divide that would dominate politics for years to come. Just four years earlier, the election of 2012 had reaffirmed Obama’s diverse coalition. In 2016, that coalition faltered, and Trump’s populist surge redefined the Republican Party and the nation’s political landscape.
