The Fix’s Sweet 2016 Bracket Competition: The final 16!

After a week of voting, we have narrowed our initial field of 32 potential Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to just 16!

Like the 1st round of the NCAA tournament, top seeds in The Fix Sweet 2016 bracket generally advanced. Overall number one seed and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton disposed of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel with a remarkable 97 percent of online votes.  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the top seed on the Republican side of the bracket, took care of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with 83 percent of the vote.

But, there were a few upsets and, like the NCAA tourney, the #5 vs #12 matchup produced one of them.  Newark Mayor Cory Booker (a 12 seed) upset Massachusetts Gov. DeVal Patrick (a 5) by a narrow 53 percent to 47 percent margin. South Dakota Sen. John Thune (a 10) defeated Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (a 7). Both # 9 seeds -- Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman -- pulled off minor upsets as well. (There was considerable criticism of the committee -- i.e. us -- for seeding Warren too low. Noted.)

The round of 16 matchups are an embarrassment of riches for political junkies.  At the top of our list is a showdown between two of the most high-profile Democratic women in politics: Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren.  On the Republican side the battle of the Pauls -- Rand vs Ryan -- promises to be intriguing.

Vote below on all eight matchups We'll keep the online polling place open until noon Thursday and announce the Elite Eight on Friday!

Republican Bracket

DisclaimerThis is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Washington Post users as a group or the general population.

Democratic Bracket

DisclaimerThis is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Washington Post users as a group or the general population.