2016 United States presidential election

The 2016 United States presidential election was the 58th presidential election that happened on November 8, 2016. Businessman Donald Trump and Indiana governor Mike Pence, defeated former secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Virginia senator Tim Kaine on the Republican Party ticket. 
Then-incumbent President Barack Obama was term limited by the Twenty-second amendment, which made him unable to serve a third presidential term. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton won the Democratic nomination. Trump became his party's front-runner against many candidates in the Republican primary, defeating Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, and Ohio Governor John Kasich among other candidates. 
Many third-party candidates ran, such as Gary Johnson. Trump chose Governor of Indiana Mike Pence as his running mate, and Clinton chose Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. 
Trump received 304 electoral votes, 34 more votes than what was needed to win, while Clinton received 227. Even though Trump lost the popular vote, the electoral votes decide the actual winner of the election. Trump took office on January 20, 2017.
Background.
 of the United States Constitution says that for a person to be elected and serve as President of the United States, they must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for a period of no less than 14 years.
Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the various political parties of the United States, in which case each party devises a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf.
President Barack Obama was unable to seek re-election for a third term because of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that a president may only serve up to two terms. His term as president ended at noon eastern standard time on January 20, 2017.
Major third parties.
Libertarian Party.
Ballot access to all 538 electoral votes
Constitution Party.
Ballot access to 207 electoral votes ("451 with write-in"): – 
Green Party.
Ballot access to 493(451) electoral votes: Ballot access currently in process: North Dakota, Rhode Island, Wyoming
States currently under litigation for ballot access: Nevada, Oklahoma
States with no ballot access: South Dakota As "write-in": 
American Delta Party and Reform Party.
Ballot access to 147 electoral votes ("305 with write-in")
Independents.
Ballot access to 84 electoral votes ("451 with write-in"):
Battleground states.
Battleground states during the election were: Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio and North Carolina. Trump won Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and a congressional district in Maine. Clinton won Nevada, New Hampshire and Maine. Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were seen as likely 'Blue' states, but Trump won all three states in what was seen as a political upset.
Debates.
On April 1, 2015, the Commission on Presidential Debates a (CPD) announced that each of the following 16 locations are under consideration to host one of the three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate:
The three locations which will host the presidential debates and the one location selected to host the vice presidential debate are to be announced by the CPD in the fall of 2015.
Results.
Margin of victory.
The following table shows the swing in each state compared to the 2012 election.