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Hillary Clinton
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Hillary Clinton

Former US secretary of state; 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College 304 to 227. She had served as the 67th US Secretary of State from January 2009 to February 2013.

Last refreshed: 1 October 2026

Timeline for Hillary Clinton

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Background

Clinton's 2016 defeat is still the reference case for spending that fails to decide an election: her campaign and its allies raised and spent about twice as much as Donald Trump's side. The comparison returns whenever outside money surges, as it did in The Week to 30 September 2026, when outside groups filed at least $259.2m with the FEC across the 300 largest filings.

Before running for president, Clinton spent eight years as First Lady. New York elected her to the US Senate in 2000 and re-elected her in 2006. She then served as Secretary of State in President Obama's first term.

Common Questions
Who is Hillary Clinton?
Hillary Clinton is a former US Secretary of State (2009-2013), senator for New York and the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.Source: Office of the Historian, US Department of State
Did Hillary Clinton outspend Donald Trump in 2016?
Yes. Her campaign and allies raised and spent about twice as much as Trump's side, and she still lost the Electoral College.Source: CNBC
When was Hillary Clinton Secretary of State?
She served as the 67th US Secretary of State from 21 January 2009 to 1 February 2013, under President Barack Obama.Source: Office of the Historian, US Department of State
Source Material
Hillary Rodham Clinton