Jefferson, Illinois — Presidential Election Results
Jefferson, Illinois has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 59.5 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 | 8,362 | 54.4% | 10.9 pts (1,677 votes) | 15,360 | — | 23.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 10,160 | 59.9% | 20.3 pts (3,447 votes) | 16,948 | -9.3 pts | 30.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 9,302 | 54.3% | 10.7 pts (1,840 votes) | 17,141 | +9.5 pts | 36.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 9,811 | 60.1% | 22.8 pts (3,722 votes) | 16,320 | -12.4 pts | 40.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 11,695 | 68.8% | 42.8 pts (7,270 votes) | 16,999 | -21.7 pts | 63.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 12,476 | 71.7% | 45.2 pts (7,868 votes) | 17,404 | -1.0 pts | 63.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 12,189 | 73.2% | 47.7 pts (7,949 votes) | 16,662 | -2.3 pts | 59.5 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 | 40,041 | 38.4% of population |
| 2004 | 39,638 | 42.8% of population |
| 2008 | 39,277 | 43.6% of population |
| 2012 | 38,658 | 42.2% of population |
| 2016 | 38,214 | 44.5% of population |
| 2020 | 37,000 | 47.0% of population |
| 2024 | 36,107 | 46.1% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Jefferson shifted 37.2 points toward the Republican 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
Jefferson has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 0 of 7 (0%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Illinois Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Jefferson voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Jefferson has voted Democratic in 0 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 7 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Jefferson?
Jefferson's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 11.0 points (1,840 votes) out of 17,141 total votes cast.
Has Jefferson ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Jefferson has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Jefferson?
The widest margin on record for Jefferson was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 48.4 points.
How many votes were cast in Jefferson relative to its population?
In 2024, 16,662 votes were recorded in Jefferson against a total population of 36,107 (46.1% 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 Jefferson a presidential bellwether county?
Jefferson has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 0 of 7 (0%).