The 2016 elections took place on November 8 . Obama was term-limited in 2016 due to the 22nd Amendment , though Obama 's approval ratings may have impacted his party 's ability to win the race . In June 2016 , with the Democratic primaries nearly complete , Obama endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his successor . However , according to Glenn Thrush of Politico , Obama had long supported Clinton as his preferred successor , and Obama dissuaded Vice President Biden from running against Clinton . Obama spoke in favor of Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention , and he continued to campaign for Clinton and other Democrats in the months leading up to Election Day . However , in the general election , Clinton was defeated by Republican nominee Donald Trump , who prominently questioned Obama 's place of birth during Obama 's first term . Republicans also retained control of the House and Senate . During the eight years of Obama 's presidency , the Democratic Party experienced a net loss of 1,041 governorships and state and federal legislative seats . Ronald Brownstein of '' The Atlantic '' noted that these losses were similar to those of other post-World War II two-term presidents
2016 Democratic National Convention
2016 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of Barack Obama