How many electoral votes must a candidate secure to win the presidency?

A candidate must secure 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. The total number of electoral votes in the United States is 538, which reflects the sum of the Senate and House of Representatives members from each state, along with three votes allocated to the District of Columbia. Since a candidate can win by obtaining the majority of these votes, 270 represents the threshold needed to ensure a clear victory in the Electoral College system. This requirement is crucial for establishing a legitimate mandate to govern, as the presidency is determined not by the popular vote alone but through this electoral process designed by the Constitution.