The Year in Election Coverage

Every December, The Atlantic looks back on the previous year—to highlight not just the big moments, but the progression of big ideas. Below, the first of three installments looks at the year in election coverage.

The presidential race began in the spring of 2015 as a free-for-all between 17 Republicans and 6 Democratic candidates—and culminated in a months-long face-off between a billionaire businessman with no political experience and the first female nominee of a major party. On November 8, 2016, Republicans came away with majorities in both the House and the Senate, and Donald Trump was elected to serve as America’s 45th president.

Here are a few of the told along the way.