Fresno, California — Presidential Election Results
Fresno, California has voted Democratic in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2024. In 2024, it was 25.3 pts more Rep. than California overall.
Jump to year: 2000 · 2004 · 2008 · 2012 · 2016 · 2020 · 2024
Full Election History, 2000–2024
| Year | Winner | Party | Votes | Vote Share | Margin | Total Votes Cast | Swing | Vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 117,342 | 53.1% | 10.1 pts (22,283 votes) | 220,835 | — | 22.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 141,988 | 57.4% | 15.7 pts (38,834 votes) | 247,160 | -5.4 pts | 25.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 136,706 | 50.2% | 2.1 pts (5,691 votes) | 272,289 | +18.0 pts | 22.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 129,129 | 49.9% | 1.8 pts (4,639 votes) | 258,827 | -0.3 pts | 21.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 141,341 | 50.1% | 6.1 pts (17,292 votes) | 282,319 | +4.7 pts | 25.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 193,025 | 52.9% | 7.8 pts (28,561 votes) | 364,917 | +1.5 pts | 21.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 165,924 | 50.9% | 4.4 pts (14,296 votes) | 325,994 | -12.5 pts | 25.3 pts more Rep. |
Population Context
Total Census Bureau population estimate for the county that year, and recorded votes as a share of that total population. This is a population-based figure, not a turnout rate against eligible or registered voters, which this site does not calculate.
| Year | County Population | Votes Cast (% of Population) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 801,288 | 27.6% of population |
| 2004 | 861,035 | 28.7% of population |
| 2008 | 909,630 | 29.9% of population |
| 2012 | 945,045 | 27.4% of population |
| 2016 | 976,830 | 28.9% of population |
| 2020 | 1,009,613 | 36.1% of population |
| 2024 | 1,024,125 | 31.8% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Fresno shifted 6.0 points toward the Democratic candidate, based on recorded county returns. This reflects the vote totals in this dataset only; no claim is made here about the causes of that shift.
Margin Over Time
Democratic candidate's margin (percentage points, two-party vote share). Positive values favor the Democratic candidate; negative values favor the Republican candidate.
Bellwether Status
Fresno has matched the national popular winner in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections (86%), and California's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other California Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Fresno voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Fresno has voted Democratic in 4 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 3 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Fresno?
Fresno's closest recorded margin was in 2012, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 1.8 points (4,639 votes) out of 258,827 total votes cast.
Has Fresno ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Fresno changed which party won the county in: 2008, 2024, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Fresno?
The widest margin on record for Fresno was in 2004, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 15.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Fresno relative to its population?
In 2024, 325,994 votes were recorded in Fresno against a total population of 1,024,125 (31.8% of the total population). This is a population-based figure, not a turnout rate against eligible or registered voters, which this site does not calculate.
Is Fresno a presidential bellwether county?
Fresno has matched the national popular winner in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections (86%), and California's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).