McHenry, Illinois — Presidential Election Results
McHenry, Illinois has voted Republican in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2012. In 2024, it was 16.5 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 | 62,112 | 58.5% | 20.2 pts (21,414 votes) | 106,185 | — | 33.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 76,412 | 59.7% | 20.4 pts (26,082 votes) | 127,948 | +0.2 pts | 31.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 72,288 | 51.9% | 5.3 pts (7,443 votes) | 139,268 | +26.0 pts | 20.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 71,598 | 53.5% | 8.8 pts (11,801 votes) | 133,844 | -14.4 pts | 26.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 71,612 | 50.5% | 7.6 pts (10,809 votes) | 141,750 | +0.8 pts | 26.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 82,260 | 50.2% | 2.5 pts (4,106 votes) | 163,879 | +5.6 pts | 19.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 83,933 | 51.7% | 5.3 pts (8,563 votes) | 162,283 | -2.8 pts | 16.5 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 | 261,084 | 40.7% of population |
| 2004 | 287,997 | 44.4% of population |
| 2008 | 307,246 | 45.3% of population |
| 2012 | 308,230 | 43.4% of population |
| 2016 | 307,159 | 46.1% of population |
| 2020 | 309,973 | 52.9% of population |
| 2024 | 315,959 | 51.4% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in McHenry shifted 15.5 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
McHenry has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 1 of 7 (14%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Illinois Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has McHenry voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, McHenry has voted Democratic in 1 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 6 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in McHenry?
McHenry's closest recorded margin was in 2020, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 2.6 points (4,106 votes) out of 163,879 total votes cast.
Has McHenry ever flipped between parties?
Yes. McHenry changed which party won the county in: 2008, 2012, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in McHenry?
The widest margin on record for McHenry was in 2000, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 20.8 points.
How many votes were cast in McHenry relative to its population?
In 2024, 162,283 votes were recorded in McHenry against a total population of 315,959 (51.4% 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 McHenry a presidential bellwether county?
McHenry has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 1 of 7 (14%).