DeKalb, Illinois — Presidential Election Results
DeKalb, Illinois has voted Democratic in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2008. In 2024, it was 9.1 pts more Rep. than Illinois 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. Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 17,139 | 51.6% | 7.0 pts (2,341 votes) | 33,233 | — | 19.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 21,095 | 51.7% | 4.5 pts (1,832 votes) | 40,768 | +2.8 pts | 15.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 25,784 | 57.5% | 16.8 pts (7,518 votes) | 44,818 | +21.6 pts | 8.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 21,207 | 51.6% | 5.5 pts (2,273 votes) | 41,092 | -11.4 pts | 11.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 20,466 | 46.9% | 3.2 pts (1,375 votes) | 43,600 | -2.2 pts | 14.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 24,643 | 51.5% | 5.7 pts (2,738 votes) | 47,825 | +2.4 pts | 11.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 23,648 | 49.9% | 2.0 pts (932 votes) | 47,401 | -3.9 pts | 9.1 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 | 89,237 | 37.2% of population |
| 2004 | 96,106 | 42.4% of population |
| 2008 | 104,601 | 42.8% of population |
| 2012 | 104,365 | 39.4% of population |
| 2016 | 104,080 | 41.9% of population |
| 2020 | 100,368 | 47.6% of population |
| 2024 | 101,335 | 46.8% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in DeKalb shifted 9.3 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
DeKalb has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Illinois Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has DeKalb voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, DeKalb has voted Democratic in 5 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 2 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in DeKalb?
DeKalb's closest recorded margin was in 2024, when Kamala D Harris (Democratic) won by 2.0 points (932 votes) out of 47,401 total votes cast.
Has DeKalb ever flipped between parties?
Yes. DeKalb changed which party won the county in: 2008, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in DeKalb?
The widest margin on record for DeKalb was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 17.1 points.
How many votes were cast in DeKalb relative to its population?
In 2024, 47,401 votes were recorded in DeKalb against a total population of 101,335 (46.8% 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 DeKalb a presidential bellwether county?
DeKalb has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).