Results of the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries explained

Election Name:2016 Republican Party presidential primaries
Country:United States
Type:primary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2012 Republican Party presidential primaries
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:2020 Republican Party presidential primaries
Next Year:2020
Election Date:February 1 to June 7, 2016
Votes For Election:2,472 delegates to the Republican National Convention
Needed Votes:1,237 delegate
Party Name:no
Candidate1:Donald Trump
Color1:283681
Home State1:New York
States Carried1:41
Popular Vote1:14,015,993[1]
Percentage1:44.9%
Delegate Count1:1,441
Candidate2:Ted Cruz
Color2:D4AA00
Home State2:Texas
States Carried2:11
Popular Vote2:7,822,100
Percentage2:25.1%
Delegate Count2:551
Candidate4:Marco Rubio
Color4:C60E3B
Home State4:Florida
States Carried4:3
Popular Vote4:3,515,576
Percentage4:11.3%
Delegate Count4:173
Candidate5:John Kasich
Color5:29AB87
Home State5:Ohio
States Carried5:1
Popular Vote5:4,290,448
Percentage5:13.8%
Delegate Count5:161
Republican nominee
Before Election:Mitt Romney
After Election:Donald Trump

This article contains the results of the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and caucuses, the processes by which the Republican Party selected delegates to attend the 2016 Republican National Convention from July 18–21. The series of primaries, caucuses, and state conventions culminated in the national convention, where the delegates cast their votes to formally select a candidate. A simple majority (1,237) of the total delegate votes (2,472) was required to become the party's nominee and was achieved by the nominee, businessman Donald Trump of New York.

The process began on March 23, 2015, when Texas Senator Ted Cruz became the first presidential candidate to announce his intentions to seek the office of United States President. That summer, 17 major candidates were recognized by national and state polls, making it the largest presidential candidate field for any single political party in American history.[2] The large field made possible the fact that the 2016 primaries were the first since 1968 (and the first in which every state held a contest) in which more than three candidates won at least one state.

When voting began in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, twelve major candidates were actively campaigning; these were (ordered by date of withdrawal from the race) former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, businesswoman and former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina, former Governor Jim Gilmore of Virginia, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, former neurosurgeon and Johns Hopkins University Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery Ben Carson, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Governor John Kasich of Ohio, and the eventual nominee, businessman and Trump Organization CEO Donald Trump.

Following poor results from the first-in-the-nation caucus, Huckabee was the first candidate to drop out.[3] Santorum also ended his campaign after a poor performance in Iowa.[4] Paul withdrew from the race after placing fifth in Iowa, and subsequently polling poorly leading into the New Hampshire primary. Christie, who put nearly all of his campaign's resources into the critical state of New Hampshire, withdrew on February 10, 2016, after finishing sixth in the state.[5] Following Christie's announcement, Fiorina suspended her campaign, which was unable to gain traction. Gilmore, who severely lacked funding, campaign infrastructure, and support, surprised many political pundits by staying in the race as far as he did; he dropped out shortly after the New Hampshire primary.[6] Bush withdrew from actively campaigning after finishing fourth in the South Carolina primary.[7] After Super Tuesday, Carson announced that there would be "no path forward" for his bid for the Presidency, effectively suspending his campaign.[8] On March 15, 2016, Rubio dropped out after losing his home state, leaving three active candidates (Cruz, Kasich, and Trump).[9] Trump's resounding victory in the Indiana primary on May 3, 2016, prompted Cruz's exit from the race. The following day, Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee after Kasich dropped out. Trump was formally nominated by the delegates of the 2016 Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016, and proceeded to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election on November 8, 2016, to become the 45th President of the United States.

Major candidates

Legend:  1st place
(popular vote)
2nd place
(popular vote)
3rd place
(popular vote)
Candidate has
withdrawn
Candidate unable to
appear on ballot
Notes:
  • a Vote totals may include votes for minor candidates, "uncommitted", "no preference", "write-ins" or other options.
  • b In the Virgin Islands, 65% of the vote (1,063 votes) went to uncommitted delegates.
  • c In Guam, 8 out of 9 delegates initially went uncommitted, and 1 unpledged delegate initially went to Cruz. After all candidates but Trump withdrew, Trump garnered the support of all 9.
  • d In Wyoming, 5% of the vote went to uncommitted delegates.
  • e In American Samoa, all 9 delegates initially went uncommitted. After all candidates but Trump withdrew, Trump garnered the support of all 9.
  • f In North Dakota, some delegates have committed to Cruz or Trump, but these delegates are unpledged.

    Other candidates

    Prior to the Iowa caucuses, five major candidates, who had been invited to the debates, had withdrawn from the race after states began to certify candidates for ballot spots: Rick Perry, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Lindsey Graham, and George Pataki. Other candidates, nearly 15 in New Hampshire alone, were able to make it on the ballot in individual states. Some votes for minor candidates are unavailable, because in many states (territories) they can be listed as Others or Write-ins. Since the beginning of the primary season, none of these other candidates have been awarded any delegates.

    Other/withdrawn candidates invited to debates
    CandidateVotesDate withdrawn
    Lindsey Graham5,666December 21, 2015
    George Pataki2,036December 29, 2015
    Bobby Jindal222November 17, 2015
    Scott WalkerSeptember 21, 2015
    Rick PerrySeptember 11, 2015
    Other candidates on the ballot (in New Hampshire unless otherwise noted)
    CandidateVotesStates on ballot
    Elizabeth Gray5,4491 (Texas)
    Timothy "Tim" Cook5173
    David Eames Hall2031 (West Virginia)
    Andy Martin2021
    Richard P.H. Witz1041
    James Lynch1001 (Missouri)
    Peter Messina813
    Andrew Brooks Cullinson561
    Frank Lynch471
    Joe Robinson441
    Victor Williams442 (California, Wisconsin)
    David Thomson351 (California)
    Stephen Bradley Comley, Sr.321
    JoAnn Breivogel312 (California, Illinois)
    Chomi Prag161
    Jacob Daniel Dyas, Sr.151
    John Dowell141 (California)
    Stephen John McCarthy121
    Donald Gonzalez101 (California)
    Walter N. Iwachiw91
    Kevin Glenn Huey81
    James Alexander-Pace71 (California)
    Matt Drozd61
    Frederic Vidal61 (California)
    Robert Lawrence Mann51
    Troy Southern41 (California)
    James Ogle31 (California)
    James Germalio21 (California)

    Results

    Primary and caucuses can be binding or nonbinding in allocating delegates to the respective state delegations to the National convention. But the actual election of the delegates can be at a later date. Delegates are (1) elected at conventions, (2) from slates submitted by the candidates, (3) selected by the state chairman or (4) at committee meetings or (5) elected directly at the caucuses and primaries.
    Until the delegates are actually elected the delegate numbers are by nature projections, but it is only in the nonbinding caucus states where they are not allocated at the primary or caucus date.

    Early states

    Iowa

    See main article: article and Iowa Republican caucuses, 2016.

    Nonbinding caucus: February 1, 2016
    State convention: June 2016
    National delegates: 30

    New Hampshire

    See main article: article and 2016 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

    Primary date: February 9, 2016
    National delegates: 23

    South Carolina

    See main article: article and South Carolina Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: February 20, 2016
    District conventions: April 2016
    State convention: May 7, 2016
    National delegates: 50

    Nevada

    See main article: article and Nevada Republican caucuses, 2016.

    Primary date: February 23, 2016
    County conventions: March 12 – April 2, 2016 (presumably)
    State convention: May 7 – 8, 2016 (presumably)
    National delegates: 30

    Super Tuesday

    Super Tuesday is the name for March 1, 2016, the day on which the largest simultaneous number of state presidential primary elections will be held in the United States. It will include Republican primaries in nine states and caucuses in two states, totaling 595 delegates (24.1% of the total). North Dakota holds the last caucus on Super Tuesday, but there is no presidential straw poll, and all the delegates elected later at its convention will be unbound. Colorado and Wyoming take a straw poll, but it is non-binding, and no delegates are allocated on Super Tuesday. The 2016 schedule has been dubbed the "SEC Primary", since many of the participating states are represented in the U.S. collegiate Southeastern Conference.[12] [13]

    The participating states include Alabama, Alaska caucuses, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota caucuses, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.[13]

    Super Tuesday overview
    CandidateStates wonVotesProjected delegate count
    TGPCNN[14] FOX[15]
    Donald Trump72,955,120254251237
    Ted Cruz32,502,557218212209
    Marco Rubio11,881,068969794
    John Kasich0546,465212119
    Ben Carson0493,912333
    Unprojected delegates:31133
    Total:118,581,841 595595595

    Alabama

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Alabama, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 50

    Alaska

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Alaska, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 28

    Arkansas

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Arkansas, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 40

    Georgia

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Georgia, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 76

    Massachusetts

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Massachusetts, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 42

    Minnesota

    See main article: article and Minnesota Republican caucuses, 2016.

    Precinct Caucuses date: March 1, 2016
    State Convention: May 20–21, 2016
    National delegates: 38

    Oklahoma

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Oklahoma, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 43

    Tennessee

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Tennessee, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 58

    Texas

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Texas, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 155

    Vermont

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Vermont, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 16

    Virginia

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Virginia, 2016.

    Primary date: March 1, 2016
    National delegates: 49

    Early-March states

    On March 5, 2016, one state held a primary while three others held caucuses. Because of the relative timeframe between Super Tuesday and because more than 100 delegates were awarded to each state's respective winner, the media has dubbed this date as "Super-Saturday."[16] The following day, Puerto Rico voted in their own primary and between March 8 and April 1, 17 more states have voted or will vote.

    Maine

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Maine, 2016.

    Primary date: March 5, 2016
    National delegates: 23

    Kansas

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Kansas, 2016.

    Primary date: March 5, 2016
    National delegates: 40

    Kentucky

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Kentucky, 2016.

    Primary date: March 5, 2016
    National delegates: 46

    Louisiana

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Louisiana, 2016.

    Primary date: March 5, 2016
    National delegates: 46

    Puerto Rico

    See main article: article and Puerto Rico Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: March 6, 2016
    National delegates: 23

    Hawaii

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Hawaii, 2016.

    Caucus date: March 8, 2016
    National delegates: 19

    Idaho

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Idaho, 2016.

    Primary date: March 8, 2016
    National delegates: 32

    Michigan

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Michigan, 2016.

    Primary date: March 8, 2016
    National delegates: 59

    Mississippi

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Mississippi, 2016.

    Primary date: March 8, 2016
    National delegates: 40

    US Virgin Islands

    See main article: article and United States Virgin Islands Republican caucus, 2016.

    Caucus date: March 10, 2016
    National delegates: 9

    Mid-March states

    District of Columbia

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in the District of Columbia, 2016.

    Convention date: March 12, 2016
    National delegates: 19

    Guam

    See main article: article and Guam Republican caucus, 2016.

    Caucus date: March 12, 2016
    National delegates: 9

    Gov. Eddie Calvo, one of the delegates from Guam, had announced his support for Cruz prior to the March 12 Guam caucus. But, the slate of delegates all committed to Trump after both Cruz and Kasich dropped out.[17]

    Wyoming

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Wyoming, 2016.

    County conventions date: March 12, 2016
    National delegates: 12

    Florida

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Florida, 2016.

    Primary date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 99

    Illinois

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Illinois, 2016.

    Primary date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 69

    Missouri

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Missouri, 2016.

    Primary date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 52

    Northern Mariana Islands

    See main article: article.

    Caucus date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 9

    North Carolina

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in North Carolina, 2016.

    Primary date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 72

    Ohio

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Ohio, 2016.

    Primary date: March 15, 2016
    National delegates: 66

    Late March states

    Arizona

    See main article: article and Arizona Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: March 22, 2016
    National delegates: 58

    Utah

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Utah, 2016.

    Caucus date: March 22, 2016
    National delegates: 40

    American Samoa

    See main article: article and American Samoa Republican caucus, 2016.

    Caucus date: March 22, 2016
    National delegates: 9

    April states

    North Dakota

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in North Dakota, 2016.

    State Convention dates: April 1–3, 2016
    National delegates: 28

    Wisconsin

    See main article: article and Wisconsin Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: April 5, 2016
    National delegates: 42

    Colorado

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Colorado, 2016.

    District Conventions dates: April 2, 2016 (districts 1, 6), April 7 (district 7), and April 8 (districts 2, 3, 4, 5)
    State Convention date: April 9, 2016
    National delegates: 37

    Wyoming

    See main article: article and Wyoming Republican caucuses, 2016.

    State Convention date: April 14–16, 2016
    National delegates: 17

    New York

    See main article: article and New York Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: April 19, 2016
    National delegates: 95

    Connecticut

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Connecticut, 2016.

    Primary date: April 26, 2016
    National delegates: 28

    Delaware

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Delaware, 2016.

    Primary date: April 26, 2016
    National delegates: 16

    Maryland

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Maryland, 2016.

    Primary date: April 26, 2016
    National delegates: 38

    Pennsylvania

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2016.

    Primary date: April 26, 2016
    National delegates: 71

    Rhode Island

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Rhode Island, 2016.

    Primary date: April 26, 2016
    National delegates: 19

    May states

    Indiana

    See main article: article and Indiana Republican primary, 2016.

    Primary date: May 3, 2016
    National delegates: 57

    Nebraska

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Nebraska, 2016.

    Primary date: May 10, 2016
    National delegates: 36

    West Virginia

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in West Virginia, 2016.

    Primary date: May 10, 2016
    National delegates: 34

    Oregon

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Oregon, 2016.

    Primary date: May 17, 2016
    National delegates: 28

    Washington

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Washington, 2016.

    Primary date: May 24, 2016
    National delegates: 44

    June states

    California

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in California, 2016.

    Primary date: June 7, 2016
    National delegates: 172

    Montana

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in Montana, 2016.

    Primary date: June 7, 2016
    National delegates: 27

    New Jersey

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016.

    Primary date: June 7, 2016
    National delegates: 51

    New Mexico

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in New Mexico, 2016.

    Primary date: June 7, 2016
    National delegates: 24

    South Dakota

    See main article: article and United States presidential election in South Dakota, 2016.

    Primary date: June 7, 2016
    National delegates: 29

    Total votes and delegates by candidate

    Candidates listed received at least 0.01% of the total vote:

    !Candidate!Total votes!Total delegates
    Donald Trump14,015,993 (44.95%)1,457
    Ted Cruz7,822,100 (25.08%)553
    John Kasich4,290,448 (13.76%)160
    Marco Rubio3,515,576 (11.27%)166
    Ben Carson857,039 (2.75%)7
    Jeb Bush286,694 (0.92%)4
    Rand Paul66,788 (0.21%)2
    Chris Christie57,637 (0.18%)0
    Mike Huckabee 51,450 (0.16%)1
    Carly Fiorina40,666 (0.13%)1
    Jim Gilmore18,369 (0.06%)0
    Rick Santorum16,627 (0.05%)0
    Lindsey Graham5,666 (0.01%)0
    Elizabeth Gray5,449 (0.01%)0

    See also

    References

    Notes
  • Citations
  • External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Republican Convention . The Green Papers . Richard E. . Berg-Andersson . Aug 10, 2016.
    2. Web site: More People Are Running for Presidential Nomination Than Ever. TIME.com. February 14, 2016. Jack. Linshi.
    3. Web site: Mike Huckabee drops out of 2016 presidential race - CNNPolitics.com. CNN. February 11, 2016.
    4. News: Rand Paul and Rick Santorum Pull Out of G.O.P. Nomination Race. The New York Times. February 3, 2016. February 11, 2016. 0362-4331. Ashley. Parker.
    5. Web site: Christie Expected to End Presidential Bid as Early as Today. ABC News. February 10, 2016. February 10, 2016.
    6. Web site: Christie, Fiorina suspend 2016 campaigns Fox News. Fox News. February 10, 2016. February 11, 2016. en-US.
    7. News: Jeb Bush Bows Out of Campaign, Humbled and Outgunned. The New York Times. February 20, 2016. February 21, 2016. 0362-4331. Ashley. Parker. Michael. Barbaro.
    8. Web site: Ben Carson Accepts That His Campaign Is Finished. Graham. David A.. The Atlantic. en-US. March 3, 2016.
    9. News: Peters. Jeremy. Barbaro. Michael. Marco Rubio Suspends His Presidential Campaign. March 16, 2016. March 16, 2016.
    10. Web site: Republican Convention 2016. www.thegreenpapers.com. June 30, 2016.
    11. Web site: Republican Pledged and Unpledged Delegate Summary . The Green Papers . June 30, 2016.
    12. News: Johnson. Jenna. As 'SEC primary' takes shape, will presidential contenders show up?. October 28, 2015. The Washington Post. May 23, 2015. ...[Georgia Secretary of State Brian P.] Kemp spearheads an effort to have a half-dozen or more Southern states hold their primaries on March 1 — right on the heels of the first-in-the-nation contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Kemp calls it the 'SEC primary,' a nod to the collegiate Southeastern Conference....
    13. News: EXCLUSIVE: TIME Guide to Official 2016 Republican Nomination Calendar . . October 2, 2015 . November 17, 2015 . Miller, Zeke J..
    14. Web site: 2016 Election Center - Presidential Primaries and Caucuses – 2016 Election Center - CNNPolitics.com. CNN. March 4, 2016.
    15. Web site: 2016 Presidential Primaries and Caucuses. March 4, 2016. www.foxnews.com. en-US. March 7, 2016.
    16. Web site: Trump, Clinton Favored to Rack Up More Delegates on Super Saturday People's Pundit Daily. People's Pundit Daily. en-US. March 5, 2016.
    17. Web site: Guam GOP delegates back Trump Local News guampdn.com.