McLean, Illinois — Presidential Election Results
McLean, Illinois has voted Republican in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2020. In 2024, it was 6.2 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 | 34,008 | 55.8% | 14.9 pts (9,072 votes) | 60,898 | — | 27.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 41,276 | 57.6% | 15.9 pts (11,399 votes) | 71,620 | -0.6 pts | 26.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 37,689 | 49.8% | 1.2 pts (922 votes) | 75,750 | +17.3 pts | 24.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 39,947 | 54.4% | 11.0 pts (8,064 votes) | 73,382 | -12.5 pts | 28.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 37,237 | 46.6% | 1.3 pts (1,041 votes) | 79,835 | +9.8 pts | 19.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 43,933 | 50.5% | 3.9 pts (3,431 votes) | 87,002 | +5.5 pts | 13.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 44,495 | 51.4% | 4.9 pts (4,205 votes) | 86,522 | +0.9 pts | 6.2 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 | 150,844 | 40.4% of population |
| 2004 | 159,096 | 45.0% of population |
| 2008 | 166,825 | 45.4% of population |
| 2012 | 172,721 | 42.5% of population |
| 2016 | 173,070 | 46.1% of population |
| 2020 | 171,236 | 50.8% of population |
| 2024 | 172,069 | 50.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in McLean shifted 20.4 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
McLean has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 3 of 7 (43%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Illinois Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has McLean voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, McLean has voted Democratic in 3 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 4 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in McLean?
McLean's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 1.2 points (922 votes) out of 75,750 total votes cast.
Has McLean ever flipped between parties?
Yes. McLean changed which party won the county in: 2008, 2012, 2020, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in McLean?
The widest margin on record for McLean was in 2004, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 16.0 points.
How many votes were cast in McLean relative to its population?
In 2024, 86,522 votes were recorded in McLean against a total population of 172,069 (50.3% 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 McLean a presidential bellwether county?
McLean has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Illinois's own statewide winner in 3 of 7 (43%).