2016 United States Presidential Election (Khaotic's Mock Elections)

The 2016 United States Presidential Election took place on November 8th, 2016. The Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey defeated the Democratic ticket of Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and former Vice President Al Gore. Trump took office as the 45th President of the United States, while Ducey became the 48th Vice President on January 20th, 2017.

Incumbent President Barack Obama was unable to seek re-election to a third term in office. Trump, a former Democrat who had never held previous political office before, won the primary against Pennsylvania Senator Natalia Robertson and Frank Underwood of South Carolina. His candidacy was rather controversial, as many saw Trump as too extreme to win the election. This caused him to lose support in his own party, as some moderate Republicans, such as Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, oppose his candidacy and refuse to endorse him.

Democrats initially wanted to nominate Vice President Joe Biden and Michigan Senator Maya Harris, however some doubted Biden's ability to campaign well, causing his candidacy to be rejected in the Democratic National Convention. Harris also mysteriously disappeared following a poor debate performance with Ducey. Democrats then nominated Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard for President and Minnesota Senator Mike Franken. However, further controversy insued when Franken died mysteriously. Democrats then nominated former Vice President Al Gore for Vice President.

Due to the Democrats failure to unite between a candidacy, many expected Trump to win, although polls showed a close race. However, Trump won by a larger margin than expected. He won 326 Electoral votes, flipping the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada and New Hampshire. Trump also won the popular vote, receiving 50.9% of the vote to Gabbard's 47.3%. Trump's popular vote margin was the largest for any Republican since George H. W. Bush's landslide victory in 1988 and was also the first time a non incumbent Republican President won the popular vote since 1988. Trump's victory was attributed to Tulsi's progressive policies being unpopular in rural areas and the Democratic controversial surrounding their nominee.