There are 22 noteworthy presidential candidates in the primaries so far— too many for all but the most devoted political junkies to keep track of. So here's a handy, sortable overview to help you out.
Here’s who’s running for president in 2016
Javier Zarracina/Vox. Photos: Campaigns, Getty, Gage Skidmore
-
Hillary Clinton D
Hillary Clinton
Bio:Secretary of State (2009-2013), Senator from New York (2001-2009), First Lady of the United States (1993-2001).
2016: Clinton has rebounded from her 2008 loss to become the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But she'll need to work to keep the enthusiasm of Obama's coalition.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Bernie Sanders D
Bernie Sanders D
Bio: Senator from Vermont (2007-present), Congressman from Vermont (1991-2007), Mayor of Burlington (1981-1989).
2016: Not actually a Democrat, but an independent and a democratic socialist, Sanders's run is a challenge to the party establishment. He's calling for a "political revolution" that would entail a greater challenge to the power of the wealthy.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Martin O'Malley D
Martin O'Malley D
Bio: Governor of Maryland (2007-2015), Mayor of Baltimore (1999-2007), Baltimore City Councilman (1991-1999).
2016: Likely the most credible choice for elites if Clinton collapses, O'Malley is trying to win attention by running to Clinton's left, but is facing criticism over his support of zero-tolerance policing in Baltimore.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Lincoln Chafee D
Lincoln Chafee D
Bio: Governor of Rhode Island (2011-2015), Senator from Rhode Island (1999-2007), Mayor of Warwick (1992-1999).
2016: Since he just joined the Democratic Party in 2013, Chafee's run for the party's presidential nomination was a surprise. He's argued that, unlike Clinton, he voted against the Iraq war.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Jim Webb D
Jim Webb
Bio: Senator from Virginia (2007-2013), Secretary of the Navy (1987-1988), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Afffairs (1984-1987).
2016: Webb's run has little support in the Democratic Party, but he's criticized Clinton's hawkish foreign policy views, and has populist positions on economic issues.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Marco Rubio R
Marco Rubio R
Bio: Senator from Florida (2011-present), Speaker of Florida House of Representatives (2007-2009), Florida House of Representatives member (2000-2009).
2016: Rubio is viewed as a rising star in the GOP, and one of the most plausible potential nominees, but has faced criticism from the right over his support of immigration reform.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Rand Paul R
Rand Paul R
Bio: Senator from Kentucky (2011-present).
2016: A libertarian, Rand Paul wants to drastically shrink the federal government, and limit its powers. But he's particularly challenging the GOP consensus on foreign policy, where he wants to be far more cautious about acting abroad.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Ted Cruz R
Ted Cruz R
Bio: Senator from Texas (2013-present), Texas Solicitor General (2003-2008).
2016: Cruz has far right views on an array of issues, but his most important differences with his party's establishment might be on tactics — he provoked the 2013 government shutdown in an unsuccessful effort to force Obamacare's repeal with a hardline negotiating stance.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Carly Fiorina R
Carly Fiorina R
Bio: CEO of Hewlett-Packard (1999-2005).
2016: Fiorina has never held elected office, having lost her 2010 bid for Senate in California. But she's been touring the country and speaking at conservative events for months, and getting a strong reception. She particularly enjoys contrasting herself with Hillary Clinton.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Ben Carson R
Ben Carson R
Bio: Director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1984-2013).
2016: In recent years, Carson became a favorite of the Tea Party right for challenging President Obama. But he's never held or even run for political office before, so the prospects of his campaign's success look quite slim.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Mike Huckabee R
Mike Huckabee R
Bio: Governor of Arkansas (1996-2007), Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (1993-1996).
2016: A favorite of the religious right (and a former pastor himself), Huckabee ran for president in 2008 and won the Iowa caucuses, but couldn't win mainstream Republican support. In the years since, he's stayed in the political conversation by hosting a show on Fox News.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Rick Santorum R
Rick Santorum R
Bio: Senator from Pennsylvania (1995-2007), Congressman from Pennsylvania (1991-1995).
2016: A favorite of the religious right, Santorum ran for president in 2012 and won the Iowa caucuses, but couldn't win mainstream Republican support. He's been out of the spotlight for a while, but is now back for another shot.
— Andrew Prokop
-
George Pataki R
George Pataki R
Bio: Governor of New York (1995-2006), New York state senator (1993-1994), New York state assembly member (1985-1992).
2016: After having been out of politics for nearly a decade, Pataki is running for president as a moderate (he's pro-choice), and seems to have an extremely small chance of winning.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Lindsey Graham R
Lindsey Graham R
Bio: Senator from South Carolina (2003-present), Congressman from South Carolina (1995-2003), South Carolina state House member (1993-1995).
2016: One of the leaders of the GOP's hawkish foreign policy wing, Graham has dissented from his party's consensus in supporting immigration reform and endorsing climate science. But his bid is viewed as having little chance, and he may be running partly to gain a higher profile for his foreign policy arguments.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Jeb Bush R
Jeb Bush R
Bio: Governor of Florida (1999-2007), Florida Secretary of Commerce (1987-1988).
2016: Thought by some to be the frontrunner, Bush delayed his announcement for months so he could raise huge sums without falling afoul of campaign financing laws. But his position in polls remains weak, and it's unclear whether GOP voters will opt for another Bush.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Scott Walker R
Scott Walker R
Bio: Governor of Wisconsin (2011-present), Milwaukee County Executive (2002-2010), Wisconsin State Assembly member (1993-2002).
2016: Performing relatively well in early polls, and known to many conservatives for his effort to limit collective bargaining rights for his state's public employees, Walker is viewed by many as one of the top contenders, alongside Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Rick Perry R
Rick Perry R
Bio: Governor of Texas (2000-2015), Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1999-2000), Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1991-1999).
2016: Perry is back for another presidential run after a disastrous 2012 bid that completely collapsed. He's arguing that Texas's economic performance was extremely strong under him.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Donald Trump R
Donald Trump R
Bio: Chairman, CEO, and president of Trump Organization (1971-present).
2016: Few take Trump's presidential plans seriously, after he teased an effort in 2011 but didn't follow through. The reality TV star insists he means it this time around, even though he's best known in the political realm for pressuring President Obama to release his birth certificate.
— Andrew Prokop
-
Chris Christie R
Chris Christie R
Bio: Governor of New Jersey (2010-present), US Attorney for New Jersey (2002-2008).
2016: Once a leader in GOP presidential polling, Christie was badly hurt by the Bridgegate scandal. Now, there seems to be little enthusiasm for his presidential bid from either elites or the grassroots.
— Andrew Prokop
-
John Kasich R
-
Bobby Jindal R
-
Jim Gilmore R
Jim Gilmore R
Bio: Governor of Virginia (1998-2002), Virginia Attorney General (1994-1997).
2016: Out of office for over 13 years since his one term as governor of Virginia, Gilmore is an incredibly long shot, if he even decides to run. He briefly ran for the 2008 GOP nomination, but dropped out in July 2007 due to poor fundraising.
— Andrew Prokop
See More:
