United States presidential election in the District of Columbia, 2016

United States presidential election in the District of Columbia, 2016
Washington, D.C.
November 8, 2016
 
Nominee TBA Donald Trump
(presumptive)
Party Democratic Republican
Home state New York
Running mate TBA TBA

Incumbent President

Barack Obama
Democratic

The 2016 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia will take place on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 general election in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participate. D.C. voters will choose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote.

On March 12 and June 14, 2016, voters will choose delegates to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions respectively.

Background

Article Two of the United States Constitution provides that for a person to be elected and serve as President of the United States, the individual 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 primary elections are usually indirect elections where voters cast ballots for a slate of party delegates pledged to a particular candidate. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf. The general election in November is also an indirect election, where voters cast ballots for a slate of members of the Electoral College; these electors in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.

The incumbent, President Barack Obama, a Democrat and former U.S. Senator from Illinois, is ineligible to seek reelection to a third term due to restrictions of the Twenty-second Amendment; in accordance with Section 1 of the Twentieth Amendment, his term expires at noon on January 20, 2017. In the 2008 election, Obama was elected president, defeating the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, receiving 52.9% of the popular vote and 68% of the electoral vote.[1][2] Obama succeeded two-term Republican President George W. Bush, the former Governor of Texas. Since the end of 2009, polling companies such as Gallup have found Obama's approval ratings to be between 40 and 50 percent.[3][4] Analysts such as Larry Sabato have noted that Obama's approval ratings could impact the 2016 campaign, helping or hurting the Democratic candidate.[5][6] If Obama and Vice President Joe Biden serve out the remainder of their respective terms, the voters will elect the 45th President and 48th Vice President of the United States, respectively.

In the 2010 midterm elections, the Democratic Party suffered significant losses in Congress; the Republicans gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives (thus taking control of the chamber), and six seats in the Senate, though short of achieving a majority. As a result of the Republicans' recapture of the House, John Boehner became the 53rd Speaker of the House of Representatives. This made Obama the first President in 16 years to lose the House of Representatives in the first half of his first term, in an election that was characterized by the economy's slow recovery, and the rise of the Tea Party movement.[7] In the 2012 presidential election, incumbent President Barack Obama defeated former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, with 51.1% of the popular vote and 332 (or 61.7%) of 538 electoral votes.[8] Meanwhile, Republicans retained their majority of seats in the House of Representatives despite minor losses, while Democrats increased their majority in the Senate.[2] Speculation about the 2016 campaign began almost immediately following the 2012 campaign, with New York magazine declaring the race had begun in an article published on November 8, 2012, two days after the 2012 election.[9] On the same day, Politico released an article predicting the 2016 general election may be between Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, while a New York Times article named Chris Christie and Cory Booker as potential candidates.[10][11] In the 2014 midterm elections, voter turnout was the lowest seen in 70 years, with only 34.4% of eligible voters voting.[12] As a result of the election, the Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives, increasing their majority to its largest level since 1928. Republicans also gained a majority in the Senate.

Primary Elections

Republican Convention

Due to the small geographical size of the District of Columbia, the local Republican party decided go directly to a "state convention", which took place at the Loews Madison Hotel at 1177 15th St NW from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Convention/Caucus method was chosen because the June 14th primary was deemed too late, and DC would be penalized and only get 16 delegates.[13]

District of Columbia Republican presidential convention, March 12, 2016
Candidate Votes Percentage Actual delegate count
Bound Unbound Total
Marco Rubio 1,059 37.3% 10 0 10
John Kasich 1,009 35.54% 9 0 9
Donald Trump 391 13.77% 0 0 0
Ted Cruz 351 12.36% 0 0 0
Jeb Bush (withdrawn) 14 0.49% 0 0 0
Rand Paul (withdrawn) 12 0.42% 0 0 0
Ben Carson (withdrawn) 3 0.11% 0 0 0
Unprojected delegates: 0 0 0
Total: 2,839 100% 19 0 19
Source: The Green Papers

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary will be held June 14th. The date was chosen because it was thought that by then the race would be over and the voters could then concentrate on local races.

Ballot controversy

On March 30, ten weeks ahead of the Washington D.C. primary, NBC affiliate News 4 reported that the Democratic Party's D.C. State Committee had submitted registration paperwork for listing presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on the primary ballots a day late, even though the Sanders campaign had correctly and timely registered with the state party. After a voter filed a challenge, this would possibly lead to Sanders' name missing on the ballots,[14] As the D.C. Council announced it would hold an emergency vote to put Sanders back on the ballots,[15] and with Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta asking to make sure an administrative error wouldn't exclude a candidate, D.C. Democratic Party chairwoman Anita Bonds told CNN that "Bernie will be on the ballot." She further explained that the party has always notified the D.C. board of elections a day after the deadline, with the only difference being that this time, someone challenged the inclusion of Sanders.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "United States House of Representatives floor summary for Jan 8, 2009". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Federal elections 2008" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Presidential Approval Ratings -- Barack Obama". Gallup. Gallup. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Election Other – President Obama Job Approval". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ Sabato, Larry J. (May 11, 2015). "Clinton’s Real Opponent: Barack Obama". Politico. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  6. ↑ Cohn, Nate (January 16, 2015). "What a Rise in Obama’s Approval Rating Means for 2016". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mid-term Elections 2010: Democrats lose the House in Republican tsunami". Daily Mail. Daily Mail and General Trust. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ "President Map". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). November 29, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Amira, Dan (November 8, 2012). "Let the 2016 Campaign Season Begin!". New York. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ Martin, Johnathon; Haberman, Maggie (November 8, 2012). "2016 election: Hillary Clinton vs. Jeb Bush?". Politico. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ Barbaro, Micharl (November 8, 2012). "After Obama, Christie Wants a G.O.P. Hug". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  12. ↑ "2014 midterm election turnout lowest in 70 years | PBS NewsHour". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  13. ↑ http://dcist.com/2016/03/_dc_republicans_who_account.php
  14. ↑ Tom Sherwood (March 30, 2016). "Bernie Sanders May Be Off DC Ballot After Democratic Party Filing". NBC 4 Washington. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ Tom Sherwood (March 31, 2016). "DC to Hold Emergency Vote to Get Bernie Sanders on Democratic Primary Ballot". NBC 4 Washington. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  16. ↑ Tom LoBlanco (March 31, 2016). "Sanders likely on D.C. ballot despite challenge". CNN. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
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