Which of the following statements best explains why no third-party candidate received any electoral votes during the 2016 Presidential Election?

The statement that best explains why no third-party candidate received any electoral votes during the 2016 Presidential Election is that no third-party candidate acquired more votes than any other candidate on the ballot in each state. In the United States, the Electoral College system awards electoral votes based on the candidate who receives the majority of the popular vote in each state. Third-party candidates faced significant challenges in garnering enough widespread support to surpass the leading candidates, which were from the two major parties.

This lack of sufficient votes meant that no third-party candidate met the threshold needed to earn electoral votes, as they did not win the popular vote in any state. This phenomenon is reflective of the broader two-party system in U.S. politics, where the majority of voters often feel compelled to vote strategically for one of the main party candidates, sometimes leading to a lack of support for third-party options.