In 2015, the political news on Twitter was mostly about this dude.
Of all the candidates running, Trump gained the most followers this year — which probably isn't a big surprise.
Given his celebrity, Trump was starting with a lot of followers anyway, but he had the had the most followers of any candidate (5.05 million), and had gained the most followers during the year (around 2.5 million).
How Trump's total number of followers stacks up among active candidates (total number of new followers in 2015 in parentheses):
@RealDonaldTrump - 5.05M (2,493,523)
@HillaryClinton - 4.75M (2,412,771)
@RealBenCarson - 1.04M (795,008)
@MarcoRubio - 992k (631,593)
@BernieSanders - 937k (939,571)
@RandPaul - 726k (258,553)
@CarlyFiorina - 632k (294,831)
@tedcruz - 615k (316,031)
@GovMikeHuckabee - 427k (99,214)
@JebBush 382k (251,249)
@RickSantorum - 248k (36,160)
@JohnKasich - 146k (85,271)
@MartinOMalley - 110k (58,567)
@GovernorPataki - 81k (74,239)
@ChrisChristie - 69k (51,251)
@LindseyGrahamSC - 31k (19,870)
@gov_gilmore - 2k (2,355)
But! Trump didn't have the most retweeted candidate tweet. Or the second. Or the third. His most retweeted tweet didn't do as well as Jeb Bush's pot joke from the second GOP debate.
Here are the top five most retweeted candidate tweets of the year.
Coming in first was Clinton's official campaign kickoff tweet.
I'm running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. –H https://t.co/w8Hoe1pbtC
What Sanders tweeted after the end of the first Republican presidential debate in Cleveland came in second.
It's over. Not one word about economic inequality, climate change, Citizens United or student debt. That's why the Rs are so out of touch.
Then Jeb Bush's marijuana joke from the second debate...
Sorry Mom
"Forty years ago, I smoked marijuana, and I admit it," he said. "I'm sure that other people might have done it and may not want to say it in front of 25 million people. My mom's not happy that I just did."
THEN a Trump tweet (i.e. this one from after the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas was the fourth most retweeted candidate tweet).
Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate
And finally Ted Cruz's announcement tweet was the fifth most retweeted:
I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!
The remaining list of active candidates and their most retweeted tweets.
@GovMikeHuckabee - 9k
@RealBenCarson - 8k
@RandPaul - 6k
@MarcoRubio - 4k
@CarlyFiorina - 3k
@LindseyGrahamSC - 3k
@JohnKasich - 2k
@MartinOMalley - 1k
@GovernorPataki - 1k
@RickSantorum - 542
@ChrisChristie - 392
@Gov_Gilmore - 50
Twitter's stats show only two candidates (one who is running, one who didn't) made their top 27 "Top US Politics/Government Tweets of the Year" based on RTs. The candidate winner on that list:
President Obama, who launched the @POTUS account this year, dominated the top political tweets of 2015. Topping the list:
Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins
The rest of the top five are all Obama, except for one.
Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.
Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account.
Retweet to spread the word. #LoveWins
This marriage equality tweet was posted by the president's political group, Organizing For Action.
Most on Twitter's top 27 tweets of the year in politics and government were not candidates. Like this guy:
Can you hear me now?
This dad-style pot joke was the sixth most retweeted on the list:
Where should we meet you? https://t.co/5YjcB0kLET
The Palm Beach County, Florida Sheriff's Department, ladies and gentlemen.
The rest of the top ten: criminal justice, NASA meets One Direction and two Clinton tweets. Some attempts at hashtag humor.
We could eliminate tuition at every public college and university in America with the $80 billion we spend each year on incarcerations.
I'm running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. –H https://t.co/w8Hoe1pbtC
#FlashbackFriday to when @NiallOfficial was inspired by a visit to @NASA. 1 year later #DragMeDownMusicVideoIsOut
Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend
Political and governmental Twitter. It's everywhere.
