<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The United States presidential election of 2016 was the 58th quadrennial American presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 . In a surprise victory, the Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana Governor Mike Pence defeated the Democratic ticket of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine despite losing the popular vote . Trump took office as the 45th President, and Pence as the 48th Vice President, on January 20, 2017 . Incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama was ineligible to run for a third term due to the term limits established by the 22nd Amendment . Concurrent with the presidential election, Senate, House, and many gubernatorial and state and local elections were also held on November 8 . </P> <P> Clinton secured the Democratic nomination after fending off a strong primary challenge from Senator Bernie Sanders . Amidst a wide Republican field, Trump emerged as the front - runner, defeating Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Jeb Bush and other candidates . Clinton ran on a platform of continuing and expanding President Obama's policies, emphasizing issues of racial, LGBT, and women's rights, and "inclusive capitalism"; whereas Trump promised to "Make America Great Again" by implementing a populist and nationalist agenda, opposing political correctness, illegal immigration, and many free - trade agreements . The tone of the general election campaign was widely characterized as divisive and negative, with both candidates beleaguered by controversy . Trump made numerous controversial remarks about race and immigration, was accused of inciting violence against protestors at his rallies, and faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct (which he denied), but was also able to garner extensive free media coverage . Clinton, whose public approval ratings had declined sharply since the end of her tenure as Secretary of State, was dogged by an FBI investigation of her improper use of a private email server, while her assertion that "half" of Trump's supporters were bigoted "deplorables" met with polarized reactions . Clinton held the lead in nearly every pre-election nationwide poll and in most swing state polls . </P>

Who won the popular vote in the last election