United States presidential election, 2016 T he United States presidential election of 2016 was the 58th and most recent quadrennial American presidential election , held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The Republican Party nominee, businessman Donald Trump from New York , and his running mate, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana , defeated the Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State and former Senator Hillary Clinton from New York , and her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia . It is estimated that 131.7 million Americans cast a ballot in 2016, out of 231 million eligible voters—a turnout rate of 56.9%. In the United States , Election Day is the day set by law for the general elections of federal public officials . It is statutorily set as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November". The earliest possible date is November 2, and the latest possible date is November 8 (as it was for