As Americans weigh their options for the 2016 presidential election, the field is crowded already. Here’s a recap so far

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Hillary Clinton's campaign résumé – as seen by the Guardian Read more

As America gears up for another presidential election, the field is so crowded that the key question is not who’s running, but who isn’t?



So far 15 Republicans are seeking the nomination, with five Democrats aiming to succeed Barack Obama.

Democrats – declared

Hillary Clinton

Odds of winning party nomination: 1/6

Age: 67

The undisputed Democratic frontrunner lost the 2008 nomination to Obama but this time is streets ahead of all her party rivals.

To appease skeptics on the left, she has taken progressive stances on a host of issues, including immigration, gay marriage, criminal justice, voting rights and campaign finance.

Republicans believe her prior experience as Obama’s secretary of state could be a potential weakness, as many Americans continue to disapprove of the current administration’s foreign policy.

Martin O’Malley

Odds: 20/1

Age: 52

Served two terms as governor of Maryland, where he built a progressive record that included legalizing same-sex marriage, abolishing the death penalty, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, passing comprehensive gun control, and providing in-state college tuition to some undocumented immigrants.

Served two terms as the mayor of Baltimore, something that has dogged him at the start of his campaign, with urban decay affecting large parts of the city and contributing to riots between police and the African American community.

Bernie Sanders

Odds: 9/1

Age: 73

Independent senator from Vermont who is standing as a Democrat and looking to challenge Clinton from the left.

A superstar in progressive circles, known for taking on Wall Street, and a self-identified “socialist” – something extremely rare in US politics.

Lincoln Chafee

Odds: 100/1

Age: 62

Served as a Republican senator, before running for governor of Rhode Island as an independent.

Joined the Democratic party in 2013, having endorsed Obama in 2008 and 2012.

Jim Webb

Odds: 25/1

Age: 69

A former US senator from Virginia who served as Ronald Reagan’s secretary of the navy and has built his political brand as a contrarian.

Republicans – declared

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush speaks in Iowa. Photograph: Charlie Neibergall/AP

Jeb Bush



Odds: 7/4

Age: 62

His biggest obstacle is his last name – although he has been fiercely defensive of his brother and father, both former presidents.

A former governor of Florida, he is unpopular among conservatives for taking moderate positions on immigration and education.

A fundraising powerhouse, the superPAC backing him has raised over $100 million already.

Marco Rubio

Odds: 7/2

Age: 44

A first-term senator from Florida, many believe Rubio – young, charismatic and the most gifted speaker in the GOP field – has the best shot at defeating Clinton.

Born to Cuban immigrants, Rubio’s campaign is built in large part on his personal story as the son of a bartender and a hotel maid who rose from modest means to national prominence – an American success story.

Rand Paul

Odds: 10/1

Age: 52

First-term senator from Kentucky and son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Like his father, he is a libertarian hero – a leading critic of NSA surveillance, he forced a temporary expiration of the Patriot Act this month.

Establishment Republicans have tried to derail his campaign by portraying him as too “isolationist” on foreign policy.

Ted Cruz

Odds: 14/1

Age: 44

One of the most divisive figures in US politics, the first-term senator from Texas is perhaps best known for leading the nation into the 2013 government shutdown over Obamacare.

Born in Canada to a Cuban father – but one of the most vocal opponents of immigration reform.

Base is largely evangelical and he is a hardliner on most social issues, such as gay marriage and abortion.

Lindsey Graham

Odds: 25/1

Age: 59

A senator from South Carolina who is one of the leading defense hawks in Congress, Graham has bluntly said Americans shouldn’t vote for him if they don’t like war.

The last time America elected an unmarried president was 1885.

Rick Perry

Odds: 25/1

Age: 65

Former governor of Texas ran unsuccessfully for president in 2012, when he memorably forgot the name of one of the US agencies he would like to eliminate during a debate, saying: “Oops!”

Launched his second bid for president despite being indicted last year by a grand jury for abusing his power as governor. Perry has denied any wrongdoing.

Rick Santorum

Odds: 40/1

Age: 57

Socially conservative former Pennsylvania senator shocked many in 2012 when he unexpectedly emerged as a serious presidential contender and gave Mitt Romney a real run for his money. Chances are considered slim this time.

Mike Huckabee

Odds: 20/1

Age: 59

A former governor of Arkansas, Huckabee unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination in 2008.

Prior to his political career, he was a Southern Baptist pastor and remains staunchly conservative on social issues – making headlines for criticizing things like Beyoncé’s music.

Carly Fiorina

Odds: 33/1

Age: 60

The only female candidate seeking the Republican nomination, she is a former CEO of Hewlett Packard.

She is regarded as the GOP’s response to Hillary Clinton and has primarily used her campaign to play attack dog against the Democratic frontrunner.

Ben Carson

Odds: 25/1

Age: 63

A retired neurosurgeon known for his work separating twins conjoined at the head.

A conservative superstar, he gained political prominence for using a prayer breakfast speech to attack Obama – with the president sitting just a few feet away.

George Pataki

Odds: 66/1

Age: 69

Governor of New York during the 9/11 attacks, he has said issues like abortion and gay marriage are a “distraction” and urged his party to focus instead on the economy and foreign policy.

Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker speaks during the Freedom Summit in Greenville, South Carolina. Photograph: Chris Keane/Reuters

Scott Walker

Odds: 4/1

Age: 47

The current governor of Wisconsin is in the top tier of candidates and is considered the frontrunner in the crucial caucus state of Iowa.



He signed a bill in 2011 to strip public workers of most of their collective bargaining rights, sparking statewide protests and an attempt to recall him from office, and he continues to propose anti-union laws.

Chris Christie

Odds: 16/1

Age: 52

The governor of New Jersey is known for his straight-talking if not downright aggressive demeanor.

His administration is under a criminal investigation by the federal government after revelations in late 2013 that his office deliberately shut down a major bridge between New Jersey and New York as retribution toward a political opponent.

Bobby Jindal

Odds: 40/1

Age: 44

The first Indian American to be elected to US Congress and the nation’s first Indian American governor.

The Louisiana governor was born Hindu but converted to Roman Catholicism. Recently penned an op-ed urging the supreme court to reject the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide.

Odds: 33-1

Age: 69

A real estate tycoon and former host of Celebrity Apprentice, Trump has repeatedly flirted with presidential bids in the past before finally jumping in this year.

Trump has drawn attention with controversial remarks on undocumented immigrants from Mexico. He has suggested that many are “rapists” and that they are being deliberately sent across the border by the Mexican government.

Republicans - probable

John Kasich

Odds: 33/1

Age: 63

The current governor of Ohio, he served eight terms in the US House of Representatives.

Under fire from fellow Republicans for expanding Medicaid in his home state of Ohio, Kasich is considered to be one of the most moderate Republicans running

Won re-election by more than 30% in 2014.

Additional reporting by Ben Jacobs in Washington and Ellen Brait in New York. This article was originally published on 14 June and has been updated. All odds from Coral Bookmakers.