Yana Paskova - Photojournalist, Writer, Photo Editor

Politics: U.S. Presidential Campaign Trails (in chronology)

From the first Black president, to the first woman in the Oval Office, to the first hashtag-turned-President, the U.S. Presidential Campaign trail could hardly be accused of being boring. Each season draws in and repels, alternating theatricality with red tape, thus renewing relevance to a political system in constant need of scrutiny.  

Photographed for: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Reuters, NPR, Bloomberg News, Newsweek, TIME, Getty Images, and as personal work 

 

 

  • (L-R) Actor John Voight peeks out behind the curtains, from which U.S. Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) is about to enter a rally with him and former FBI director Louis J. Freeh at the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City, Florida, on Sunday, January 20, 2008; and an American flag sits folded on a chair backstage as U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at the Bluegrass Cafe in Tama, Iowa, on Nov. 19, 2007. (Photo by: Yana Paskova for The New York Times)
  • A crowd at the Festhalle barn at the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa, listens to Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speak on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.(For The New York Times)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton (D-NY) rests for a moment while campaigning at the Clear Lake 4th of July Parade in Clear Lake, Iowa, on July 4, 2007. She brought along her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to greet the crowd.
  • (L-R) Volunteers for U.S. Presidential Hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and his rival candidate, Hillary Clinton (D-NY) place signs outside the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum in North High School in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 1, 2007. The forum gathered opposing democratic candidates with a month left until the Iowa caucus. (For Getty Images)
  • Potential supporters of U.S. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton (D-NY) listen to her speak at an economy rally in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, on Monday, March 31, 2008. The Senator is hoping to woo crucial to her votes in the state before its primary on April 22, 2008. (For Newsweek)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) raises his hand as he speaks to a crowd gathered in Chariton, Iowa, on Nov. 08, 2007.  (For Newsweek)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee (R-AR) jokes around with five-year-old Luke Marks, from Tampa, Florida, by a polling site at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, where he stopped by to greet voters and potential supporters in Tampa, Florida, on the state's primary day, Tuesday, January 29, 2008.(For The New York Times)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee (R-AR) speaks at a “Huckabee for President” rally at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday, January 23, 2008.(For The New York Times)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) holds a roundtable discussion with undecided caucus goers on December 31, 2007, in Sioux City, Iowa. (For The New York Times)
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama (D-IL) greets a crowd of about 4,000 people at an event in Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 15, 2007.
  • U.S. Presidential Hopeful Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) prepares to speak during an event at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 1, 2007. With a month left until the Iowa caucus, Edwards is in close competition with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for the democratic party candidate nomination. (For The New York Times)
  • (L-R) Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks to a crowd gathered in Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007; and U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at the Grundy Center High School in Grundy Center, Iowa, on Nov. 18, 2007.
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), as seen through the window of a skating rink, speaks to a crowd gathered in Chariton, Iowa, on Nov. 08, 2007.
  • After a day of campaign stops, U.S. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton (D-NY) talks on the phone as she and her staff prepare to depart the Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, April 02, 2008. The Senator is hoping to woo crucial to her votes in Pennsylvania before its primary on April 22, 2008.(For The New York Times)
  • (L-R) U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks to a crowd gathered in Chariton, Iowa, on Nov. 08, 2007; and Donald Davis, next to his wife, Alice Davis and a friend, Judy Manning, from Wayne, Iowa, listen to U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) speak at a roundtable discussion with undecided caucus-goers on December 29, 2007, in Washington, Iowa.
  • U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama (D-IL) plays a 3-on-3 basketball game in Kokomo, Indiana, on Friday, April 25, 2008.  Obama and his rival, Hillary Clinton (D-NY) are campaigning in the state in the lead-up to its May 6th Democratic Presidential Primary. (For The New York Times)
  • Jim Wilson, 68, from Buckingham, Virginia, who has followed Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) since the Iowa State Fair, waits for him to arrive to the Ingham Lincoln Day Breakfast at the Chisholm Hills Banquet Center in Lansing, Michigan on Saturday, February 25, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • Secret Service agents watch Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) greet the crowd after speaking at Bakers of Milford in Milford, Michigan on Thursday, February 23, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • A sign is reflected in a video camera as the media wait for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) to speak at Meridian Bioscience in Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday, February 20, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • (L-R) Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) greets the audience before speaking at a town hall meeting at Taylor Winfield in Youngstown, Ohio on Monday, March 05, 2012; and Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) addresses the Detroit Economic Club at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, February 24, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) pauses while addressing the Detroit Economic Club at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, February 24, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • An audience awaits Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) to arrive to a rally at Byrne Electrical Specialists in Rockford, Michigan on Monday, February 27, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • A man peeks out of a door after Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) spoke at a town hall meeting at Taylor Winfield in Youngstown, Ohio on Monday, March 05, 2012. (For The New York Times)(For The New York Times)
  • A member of the Secret Service peeks the the outside world from the tent where Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) spoke near the Montgomery Inn Restaurant at The Boathouse in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, March 03, 2012.(For The New York Times)
  • Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) speaks at a rally at West Hills Elementary School in Knoxville, Tennessee on Sunday, March 04, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • Ann Romney, wife of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA), listens to him speak with reporters on their plane before it takes off from Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, March 06, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • Mary Beth Browder poses for a portrait while Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) speaks at a rally at West Hills Elementary School in Knoxville, Tennessee on Sunday, March 04, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) greets the crowd after speaking at a rally at American Posts in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • (L-R) Jennifer Harper cheers while watching Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) take a slight lead over his rival, Rick Santorum (R-PA) in the battle for primary elections in Romney's home state in Novi, Michigan on Tuesday, February 28, 2012; and Scott Czasak screams out in joy while watching the results of primary elections in the home state of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA), as it is announced he has defeated his rival, Rick Santorum (R-PA) in Novi, Michigan on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.
  • Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) leaves Western MIchigan University after speaking there, in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, February 24, 2012. (For The New York Times)
  • (L-R) U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) arrives to Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, FL, on March 11, 2016, where former candidate Ben Carson gave him his endorsement; and U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) campaigns near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on April 07, 2016.(Left image for TIME magazine, Right image for Washington Post)
  • U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) speaks at Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, FL, on March 11, 2016. Former candidate Ben Carson endorsed Trump during that day's press conference. (For TIME magazine)
  • A small and fascinating subset of Muslim Americans express an interest in voting for U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. In Florida, a particularly large proportion of Muslim Republicans (approx. 2 out of every 3, according to CAIR,) have such leanings - Trump's business background and apparent ability to self-finance eclipsing his anti-immigrant, Islamophobic rhetoric as priorities. Adam Warshauer, 37, seen here posing for a portrait with a passage from the Surat Al-Qalam in the Koran in Delray Beach, has a Jewish father and Christian mother, and became a Sufi Muslim at 22. Warshauer says he plans to support Trump, especially if he becomes the Republican nominee for president, and that he does not believe he wants to ban Muslims' entry to the country because of a dislike for them. “Most are outraged at Trump saying he wants to ban Muslims from entering America, but I support that as a Muslim person, because we have to stop what is happening and work with other Muslim countries to stop terrorism. An example of Trump being a problem solver is his proposal for building the wall along the Mexico border - that's a solution to illegal immigration. But I am worried about his approach to foreign policy, since he is a bit aggressive. Then again, Putin respects him and that's good; we want Putin to respect our country.” Warshauer adds that {quote}Trump says a lot of dumb things, and I'd like to help him. I’m not necessarily a ‘Trump Trump Trump!’ first pumper, but I am being a realist, and if he is going to win, I want to support him to make the best decisions for our country.{quote}(For TIME magazine)
  • U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. ride the subway from the 161st Street to the 170th Street subway station in the Bronx, NY, on April 07, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • A member of the Secret Service scans the crowd as U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at Jackson Diner in Queens, NY, on April 11, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY),) on left, speaks at Jackson Diner in Queens, NY, on April 11, 2016. Clinton is seen in the restaurant door's reflection. (For Washington Post)
  • Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (seen in the glass's reflection) speaks in front the shuttered Trump Plaza casino on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, NJ, on July 06, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • (L-R) U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at Jackson Diner in Queens, NY, on April 11, 2016; and campaigns near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx earlier that same day. (For Washington Post)
  • Pam Becker, 51, poses for a portrait with the name of U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) written on her finger at a rally for candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, FL, on March 13, 2016. Becker, a Democrat, says of her attendance to a Trump rally: {quote}It's hard to argue against someone if I don't have the knowledge. Simply calling people names is not an argument.{quote} (For TIME magazine)
  • U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at a Women for Hillary campaign event at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan, NY, on April 18, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife, Mary Jane O'Meara Sanders, wave goodbye to a crowd gathered at Washington Square Park in Manhattan, NY, on April 13, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • A Secret Service agent surveys the crowd as U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) speaks at a rally at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, FL, on March 13, 2016.(For TIME magazine)
  • A Secret Service agents and police officers survey the crowd as U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) speaks at a rally at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, FL, on March 13, 2016.(For TIME magazine)Photo by: Yana Paskova
  • Supporters of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gather near the fenced-off perimeter of the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA, in protest against Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) nomination for U.S. President, as she spoke inside, at the Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016.(For NBC News)
  • Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets the audience after speaking at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Manhattan, NY, on February 16, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • Michelle Palmer, 36, U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to speak at Washington Square Park in Manhattan, NY, on April 13, 2016. (For Washington Post)
  • A crowd awaits Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to speak at the Javits Center in Manhattan, NY, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 08, 2016, as the polls began to show Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as the presumptive winner. (For NPR)
  • (L-R) A Secret Service agent surveys the crowd as U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) speaks at a rally at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, FL, on March 13, 2016.(For TIME magazine)
  • A staffer at the Republican Presidential Debate is seen backstage of the media Spin Room at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, on March 10, 2016.(For TIME magazine)
  • U.S. First lady Melania Trump listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters upon their arrival to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, NY, on September 24, 2019. The president's interaction with the press is often adversarial.(For Reuters)
  • Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a {quote}Bernie's Back{quote} rally at Queensbridge Park in Queens, NY, on October 19, 2019. The rally, at which Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Sanders, drew over 20,000 participants and took place shortly after Sanders was hospitalized for a heart attack at the start of the month.(For Reuters)
  • Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) greets the audience after speaking at a {quote}Bernie's Back{quote} rally at Queensbridge Park in Queens, NY, on October 19, 2019. The rally, at which Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Sanders, drew over 20,000 participants and took place shortly after Sanders was hospitalized for a heart attack at the start of the month.(For Reuters)
  • An audience at a {quote}Bernie's Back{quote} rally listens to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduce Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a {quote}Bernie's Back{quote} rally at Queensbridge Park in Queens, NY, on October 19, 2019. The rally, at which Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Sanders, drew over 20,000 participants and took place shortly after Sanders was hospitalized for a heart attack at the start of the month. (For Reuters)
  • U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he and first lady Melania Trump arrive to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, NY, on September 24, 2019. The president's interaction with the press is often adversarial.(For Reuters)
  • Michael Bloomberg prepares to speak at the Christian Cultural Center on November 17, 2019 in Brooklyn, NY. During the speech, the former New York mayor apologized for supporting stop-and-frisk policies during his term, which have drawn criticism for targeting people of color in unnecessary search and arrest. Bloomberg entered the crowded Democratic presidential primary race shortly thereafter.(For Getty Images)
  • Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, speaks during a town hall event in the Bronx, NY,  on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Ocasio-Cortez met with veterans and registered nurses and discussed protecting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system from privatization. She endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for presidential candidate in October at a rally of 20,000+. (For Bloomberg News)
  • Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) becomes emotional while being greeted by 20,000-person audience upon arriving to a {quote}Bernie's Back{quote} rally at Queensbridge Park in Queens, NY, on October 19, 2019. The rally, at which Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Sanders, took place shortly after Sanders was hospitalized for a heart attack at the start of the month. (For Reuters)
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