Presidential election in California, 2016

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General election in California
  Date: November 8, 2016
2016 winner: Hillary Clinton
Electoral votes: 55
2012 winner: Barack Obama (D)
Democratic Primary
  Date: June 7, 2016
Winner: Hillary Clinton
Republican Primary
  Date: June 7, 2016
Winner: Donald Trump
Down ballot races in California
  U.S. Senate
U.S. House
California State Senate
California House of Representatives
California judicial elections
California local judicial elections
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California held an election for the president of the United States on November 8, 2016. Democratic and Republican primaries took place in California on June 7, 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Hillary Clinton won California in the general election.
  • In 2016, California had 55 electoral votes, which was 10.2 percent of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs and 20.4 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the general election.
  • Between 1900 and 2016, California cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 80 percent of the time. In that same time frame, California supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 53.33 to 43.33 percent. The state favored Democrats in every presidential election between between 2000 and 2016.
  • Presidential primary elections in California took place on June 7, 2016. Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary with 54 percent of the vote. Donald Trump won the Republican primary with 74 percent.
  • General election candidates and results

    See also: Ballot access for presidential candidates

    The candidate list below is based on an official list on the California secretary of state website. The candidate names below appear in the order in which they were listed on the official list—not necessarily the order in which they appeared on the ballot in November.

    Presidential candidates on the ballot in California

    Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine (Democratic)
    Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican, American Independent)
    Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka (Green)
    Gary Johnson/Bill Weld (Libertarian)
    Gloria Estela La Riva/Dennis J. Banks (Peace and Freedom)

    Results

    U.S. presidential election, California, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 61.7% 8,753,788 55
         Republican Donald Trump/Mike Pence 31.6% 4,483,810 0
         Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 3.4% 478,500 0
         Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 2% 278,657 0
         Peace and Freedom Gloria Estela La Riva/Dennis J. Banks 0.5% 66,101 0
         - Write-in votes 0.9% 120,739 0
    Total Votes 14,181,595 55
    Election results via: Federal Election Commission

    Historical election trends

    See also: Presidential election accuracy

    Below is an analysis of California's voting record in presidential elections. The state's accuracy is based on the number of times a state has voted for a winning presidential candidate. The majority of statistical data is from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and was compiled, here, by Ballotpedia, unless otherwise noted.

    Presidential election voting record in California, 1900-2016

    Between 1900 and 2016:

    • California participated in 30 presidential elections.
    • California voted for the winning presidential candidate 80 percent of the time. The average accuracy of voting for winning presidential candidates for all 50 states in this time frame was 72.31 percent.[1]
    • California voted Democratic 43.33 percent of the time and Republican 53.33 percent of the time.

    Third party and split electoral votes

    In 1912, Woodrow Wilson ran as the Democratic candidate, Theodore Roosevelt ran as a Progressive candidate, and William H. Taft ran as the Republican candidate. Taft won Utah and Vermont, while Roosevelt won 11 electoral votes (Wilson got two) from California, 15 from Michigan, 12 from Minnesota, 38 in Pennsylvania, five from South Dakota, and seven from Washington.[2]

    Presidential election voting record in California, 2000-2016

    *An asterisk indicates that that candidate also won the national electoral vote in that election.

    Election results

    2012

    U.S. presidential election, California, 2012
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBarack Obama/Joe Biden Incumbent 60.2% 7,854,285 55
         Republican Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan 37.1% 4,839,956 0
         Libertarian Gary Johnson/Jim Gray 1.1% 143,221 0
         Green Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala 0.7% 85,638 0
         Independent American Thomas Hoefling/Robert Ornelas 0.3% 38,372 0
         Peace & Freedom Roseanne Barr/Cindy Sheehan 0.4% 53,824 0
         Write-in Ross C. 'Rocky' Anderson/Luis J. Rodriguez (write-in) 0% 992 0
         Write-in Sheila 'Sam' Tittle/Matthew A. Turner (write-in) 0% 6 0
         Write-in Stephen Durham/Christina López (write-in) 0% 54 0
         Write-in Ron Paul/Andrew Napolitano (write-in) 0.2% 21,461 0
         Write-in James Harris/Alyson Kennedy (write-in) 0% 72 0
         Write-in Virgil Goode/James Clymer (write-in) 0% 503 0
         Write-in Jerry White/Phyllis Scherrer (write-in) 0% 79 0
         Write-in Stewart Alexander/Alex Mendoza (write-in) 0% 82 0
    Total Votes 13,038,545 55
    Election results via: California Secretary of State

    2008

    U.S. presidential election, California, 2008
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBarack Obama/Joe Biden 61% 8,274,473 55
         Republican John McCain/Sarah Palin 37% 5,011,781 0
         Peace and Freedom Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez 0.8% 108,381 0
         Libertarian Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root 0.5% 67,582 0
         Independent American Alan Keyes/Wiley S. Drake, Sr. 0.3% 40,673 0
         Green Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 0.3% 38,774 0
         Write-in Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle (write-in) 0% 3,145 0
         Write-in James Harris/Alyson Kennedy (write-in) 0% 49 0
         Write-in Frank Moore/Susan Block (write-in) 0% 36 0
         Write-in Ron Paul/Gail Lightfoot (write-in) 0.1% 17,006 0
    Total Votes 13,561,900 55
    Election results via: California Secretary of State

    Electoral votes

    See also: Electoral College

    The president of the United States is not elected by popular vote but rather by electors in the Electoral College. In fact, when Americans vote for president, they are actually voting for a slate of electors selected by members of Democratic and Republican state parties or nominated in some other fashion. Under this system, which is laid out in Article 2, Section 1, of the Constitution, each state is allocated one electoral vote for every member of their congressional delegation, meaning one for each member of the U.S. House and one for each of their two Senators.

    California electors

    In 2016, California had 55 electoral votes. California's share of electoral votes represented 10.2 percent of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs in the general election and 20.4 percent of the 270 votes needed to be elected president. Democratic electors in California in 2016 were chosen by each 2016 Democratic congressional nominee. On the Republican side in California, the following individuals served as electors: "the nominees for Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer, Controller, Attorney General, Secretary of State, U.S. Senate at the last two elections, Assembly Republican leader, Senate Republican leader, all elected officers of the Republican State Central Committee, national committeemen/women, President of Republican County Central Committee Chairmen's Association, and chair or President of each Republican volunteer organization officially recognized by the Republican State Central Committee." Members of Congress and "persons holding office of trust or profit of the U.S." are prohibited by the Constitution from serving as electors. The chair of Republican State Central Committee in California could appoint electors to fill any vacancies.

    "Faithless electors"

    The U.S. Constitution does not dictate how presidential electors are to cast their votes, but, in general, electors are expected to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state or the candidates of the party that nominated them to serve as electors. Electors who choose not to vote for the winner of the popular vote or the candidates of the party that nominated them are known as "faithless electors." Faithless electors are rare. Between 1900 and 2012, there were only eight known instances of faithless electors.

    Several states have passed laws against faithless electors and require electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state, for the candidate of the party that nominated them to serve as electors, or in accordance with any pledge they may have been required to make at the time of their nomination. In states with these types of laws, faithless electors can be fined or replaced, or their votes can be nullified.[4][5]

    California was one of 31 states in 2016—including the District of Columbia—with a law seeking to bind the votes of presidential electors.

    Down ballot races

    See also: California elections, 2016

    Below is a list of down ballot races in California covered by Ballotpedia in 2016.

    Primary election

    Quick facts

    Democrats: Republicans
    • 2016 Republican winner: Donald Trump
    • Poll leader: Donald Trump
    • 2012 Republican winner: Mitt Romney
    • Type: Closed Primary
    • Delegate allocation: Winner take all
    • Pledged delegates at stake: 172


    Democrats

    Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in the California Democratic primary 56 to 43 percent. In California's Democratic primary, 475 pledged delegates were at stake, more than any other state in the 2016 Democratic nominating season. California's delegate haul represented almost 20 percent of the 2,383 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination and almost 12 percent of the 4,038 pledged delegates up for grabs in 2016. Polling from March, April, and May showed Hillary Clinton with a lead in California over rival Bernie Sanders ranging from two to 14 points. In 2008, Clinton won the state over Barack Obama 52 to 43 percent. California's pledged delegates were allocated on a proportional basis. California's seventy-three superdelegates were not required to adhere to the results of the June 7 primary election. As of June 7, 2016, 52 California superdelegates were known to have expressed their support for Clinton, while the support of 21 superdelegates was unknown. At the time, there were no known superdelegates from California supporting Sanders for the Democratic nomination. A full list of California superdelegates can be accessed below.

    Republicans

    Donald Trump won the California Republican primary. A total of 172 pledged delegates were up for grabs. As with the Democrats, this was more than any other state in the 2016 Republican nominating season, representing 14 percent of the delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination and roughly 7 percent of the total number of pledged delegates at stake for the Republicans. Polling from March and April showed Donald Trump leading Ted Cruz by margins ranging from 16 points to one point. California's Republican delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis, meaning the candidate who won the plurality of the vote received all 172 delegates. You can read more about the allocation of Republican delegates in California below.

    Primaries on June 7, 2016

    Five other states held presidential primary elections or caucuses for the Democratic and Republican parties on June 7, 2016: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

    2016 California primary results

    Democrats

    California Democratic Primary, 2016
    Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates
    Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton 54.2% 2,580,865 269
    Bernie Sanders 44.9% 2,135,718 206
    Roque De La Fuente 0.2% 7,757 0
    Henry Hewes 0.1% 6,997 0
    Keith Judd 0.1% 6,771 0
    Michael Steinberg 0.2% 10,247 0
    Willie Wilson 0.2% 11,260 0
    Totals 4,759,615 475
    Source: The New York Times and California Secretary of State

    Republicans

    California Republican Primary, 2016
    Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates
    Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump 74.7% 1,582,099 172
    Ted Cruz 9.5% 201,441 0
    John Kasich 11.4% 242,073 0
    Ben Carson 0.7% 14,938 0
    Jim Gilmore 3.7% 77,417 0
    Totals 2,117,968 172
    Source: The New York Times and California Secretary of State

    Primary candidates

    Democrats[6]

    Hillary Clinton
    Roque De La Fuente
    Henry Hewes


    Keith Judd
    Bernie Sanders


    Michael Steinberg
    Willie Wilson

    Republicans[6]

    Ben Carson
    Ted Cruz


    Jim Gilmore
    John Kasich


    Donald Trump

    Third party candidates

    Wiley Drake (American Independent)
    Arthur Harris (American Independent)
    James Hedges (American Independent)
    Thomas Hoefling (American Independent)
    J.R. Myers (American Independent)
    Robert Orneals (American Independent)
    Alan Spears (American Independent)
    Darryl Cherney (Green)
    William Kreml (Green)


    Kent Mesplay (Green)
    Sedinam Moyowasifsa-Curry (Green)
    Jill Stein (Green)
    Marc Feldman (Libertarian)
    John Hale (Libertarian)
    Cecil Anthony Ince (Libertarian)
    Gary Johnson (Libertarian)
    Steve Kerbel (Libertarian)
    John McAfee (Libertarian)


    Darryl Perry (Libertarian)
    Austin Petersen (Libertarian)
    Derrick Reid (Libertarian)
    Jack Robinson Jr. (Libertarian)
    Rhett White Feather Smith (Libertarian)
    Joy Waymire (Libertarian)
    Lynn Kahn (Peace and Freedom)
    Gloria Estela La Riva (Peace and Freedom)
    Monica Moorehead (Peace and Freedom)

    Delegates

    Delegate selection

    See also: 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules

    Democratic Party

    Democratic Party Logo.png

    California had 551 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 476 were pledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's pledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.[7][8]

    Seventy-five party leaders and elected officials served as unpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.[7][9]

    California superdelegates

    See also: Superdelegates from California, 2016 and Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention

    Republican Party

    Logo-GOP.png

    California had 172 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 159 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 53 congressional districts). California's district delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner in a given congressional district won all of that district's delegates.[10][11]

    Of the remaining 13 delegates, 10 served at large. California's at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the statewide primary vote received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[10][11]

    Republican delegates

    See also: Republican delegates from California, 2016 and RNC delegate guidelines from California, 2016

    Polls

    Democratic Primary

    Democratic Party Democratic Party presidential primary polling (California)
    Poll Hillary Clinton Bernie SandersMartin O'MalleyUnsure or OtherMargin of ErrorSample Size
    CBS News/YouGov
    May 31-June 3
    49%47%0%4%+/-5674
    NBC/WSJ/Marist
    May 29-31, 2016
    49%47%0%4%+/-4.2557
    Field
    May 26-31, 2016
    45%43%0%12%+/-4.1571
    LA TImes/USC
    May 19-31, 2016
    49%39%0%12%+/-5421
    KABC/SurveyUSA
    May 19-22, 2016
    57%39%0%4%+/-3.5803
    PPIC
    May 13-22, 2016
    46%44%0%10%+/-5.7552
    Hoover/Golden State
    May 4-16, 2016
    51%38%0%11%+/-N/A694
    KABC/SurveyUSA
    April 27-30, 2016
    57%38%0%5%+/-3.4826
    Fox News
    April 18-21, 2016
    48%46%0%6%+/-4623
    CBS News/YouGov
    April 13-15, 2016
    52%40%0%8%+/-4.51,124
    Gravis
    April 7-10, 2016
    47%41%0%12%+/-3.4846
    Field
    March 24-April 4, 2016
    47%41%0%12%+/-4584
    SurveyUSA
    March 30-April 3, 2016
    53%39%0%8%+/-3.6767
    L.A. Times
    March 16-23, 2016
    47%36%0%17%+/-3.7832
    PPIC
    March 6-15, 2016
    48%41%0%11%+/-6.2529
    Field
    December 16, 2015-January 3, 2016
    46%35%1%18%+/-5.6329
    Field Research Corporation
    September 14-October 4, 2015
    47%35%1%17%+/-5391
    USCDornsife/L.A. Times
    August 29-September 8, 2015
    42%26%0%32%+/-N/A819
    Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].


    Republican Primary

    Republican Party Republican Party presidential primary polling (California) (2016)
    Poll Donald Trump Ted CruzJohn KasichMarco RubioUnsure or OtherMargin of ErrorSample Size
    Hoover/Golden State
    May 4-16, 2016
    66%11%7%0%16%+/-N/A380
    KABC/SurveyUSA
    April 27-30, 2016
    54%20%16%0%10%+/-4.3529
    Fox News
    April 18-21, 2016
    49%22%20%0%9%+/-4583
    CBS News/YouGov
    April 13-15, 2016
    49%31%16%0%4%+/-4.81,012
    Field
    March 24-April 4, 2016
    39%32%18%0%11%+/-4558
    SurveyUSA
    March 30-April 3, 2016
    40%32%17%0%11%+/-5.3356
    L.A. Times
    March 16-23, 2016
    36%35%14%0%15%+/-5.5391
    PPIC
    March 6-15, 2016
    38%27%14%0%21%+/-7.3321
    NSON Opinion Strategy
    March 9-10, 2016
    38.3%22.4%19.7%10.1%9.5%+/-4.86407
    Smith Johnson Research
    March 7-9, 2016
    24.9%19.6%15.4%17.6%22.5%+/-4454
    Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].
    Republican Party Republican Party presidential primary polling (California) (2015)
    Poll Donald Trump Ted CruzMarco RubioBen CarsonJohn KasichCarly FiorinaJeb BushRand PaulChris ChristieMike HuckabeeUnsure or OtherMargin of ErrorSample Size
    Field
    December 16, 2015-January 3, 2016
    23%25%13%9%1%3%4%6%3%<1%13%+/-5.6325
    Field Research Corporation
    September 17-October 4, 2015
    17%6%10%15%2%13%8%5%2%3%18%+/-7214
    USCDornsife/L.A. Times
    August 29-September 8, 2015
    24%6%5%18%2%5%6%2%1%2%29%+/-N/A422
    Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].


    Presidential voting history

    California presidential election results (1900-2024)

    • 16 Democratic wins
    • 15 Republican wins
    • 1 other win
    Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
    Winning Party R R R P[12] D R R R D D D D D R R R D R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D

    State profile

    Demographic data for California
     CaliforniaU.S.
    Total population:38,993,940316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):155,7793,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:61.8%73.6%
    Black/African American:5.9%12.6%
    Asian:13.7%5.1%
    Native American:0.7%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.4%0.2%
    Two or more:4.5%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:81.8%86.7%
    College graduation rate:31.4%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$61,818$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:18.2%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    Presidential voting pattern

    See also: Presidential voting trends in California

    California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.


    More California coverage on Ballotpedia

    See also

    Footnotes