In recent weeks, political figures from both sides of the aisle have come forward and announced their campaigns to run for president in the 2016 elections.

Clinton runs for second time

Stating what was expected for months and confirming the beliefs of pundits everywhere, Hillary Clinton announced Sunday she will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.

Clinton posted a video announcement to her campaign website Sunday. John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, said there will be a formal kickoff event next month.

In 2008, Clinton ran for president and became the first woman to win a presidential primary contest. She pulled out of the campaign in June 2008 and pushed support for now-President Barack Obama. During Obama’s first term, she served as Secretary of State.

Her announcement doesn’t come as a shock. Since running in 2008, she’s given a number of hints at another campaign.

Sophomore Rachel Echevarria wasn’t surprised about Clinton’s announcement but doesn’t think she will win.

“I don’t think people are going to vote for her because she’s a woman,” Echevarria said. “I don’t think America’s going to do it yet.”

According to Jason Husser, assistant professor of political science and assistant director of the Elon University Poll, Clinton’s long history in the public eye as a first lady and then Secretary of State gives her an advantage no candidate has had before.

“You’d have to probably go back to Dwight Eisenhower to find a more well-known presidential candidate,” Husser said. “You could argue that Al Gore or George H.W. Bush were better-known or similarly-known, but really you’d probably have to go to Eisenhower.”

Husser added that Clinton’s popularity will give her an advantage unlike any candidate has had in the past.

“In some ways, she is the best-known presidential candidate ever,” he said. “We’re going to have some unexpected things because of that.”

As of publication, there were no other Democrats who had announced their campaign to run for president in 2016.

Husser said Clinton is essentially a lock for the Democratic nomination.

“Unless something fairly cataclysmic happens, she’s probably going to get the nomination,” Husser said. “At this point, there would be very few circumstances I think that would lead her to not get the nomination. One would be some kind of scandal we’re not aware of right now. That said, it’s pretty unlikely.”

Clinton’s been in the public eye since her time as the first lady during her husband’s terms from 1992-2000.

Sophomore Katie Condon isn’t sure about whether Clinton will win, but said her prominence is a big asset.

“The fact that she’s known so well will help in name recognition,” Condon said. “It can work in her favor or against her. People know her better. People know her past.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) predicted Clinton will win, saying she would “be one of the best-prepared leaders to preside in the Oval Office.”

Husser said since Clinton is so well-known, there wasn’t much to say when she formally announced.

“Historically, there’s never been a presidential candidate whose record has been sifted through as much as Hillary’s,” Husser said. “It’s almost like this has been a foregone conclusion for months now.”

Husser said while earning the Democratic nomination will be manageable, winning the election will be much tougher. Currently,  Husser said, Jeb Bush is the favorite for the Republican nomination.

“If you look at economic voting models, you can usually predict a presidential election, even at this point, within a few points based on economic performance of the party,” Husser said. “Right now, we’re in a slow recovery still. The economy’s not terrible, but it’s not great. It’s really anyone’s shot. Whoever’s got the Republican nomination has just as good of a chance as Hillary does.”

Republicans make run for White House

Within the last month, a trio of Republican senators ­— Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida — announced their 2016 presidential runs. 

Cruz first announced his run for president on Twitter at midnight March 23 and then verbalized it during a speech at Liberty University that morning.

“I believe in you,” Cruz said in his speech. “I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America, and that is why today I am announcing that I’m running for president of the United States.”

The second Republican put his name in the ring for the party’s nomination April 7 when Paul announced during his campaign launch in Louisville, Kentucky, that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for president.

The 2010 elected senator and former opthamologist operates on a platform that the Republican party needs to broaden its appeal to a more diverse group of voters.

Rubio was the most recent Republican to announce his run for the White House.

During an April 13 speech in Miami, Rubio, 43 — the youngest candidate in the race thus far — based himself on taking the Republican party into the future as a next-generation and forward-looking leader.

“It’s really anybody’s shot,” Husser said. “Whoever gets the Republican nomination has just as good of a shot as Hillary does. Because Hillary is not going to face a really tough nomination process, she won’t be as well vetted and as practiced as she would if she had faced like a 2008 challenge.”