Winnebago, Illinois — Presidential Election Results
Winnebago, 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 10.6 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 | 53,816 | 49.2% | 1.7 pts (1,835 votes) | 109,297 | — | 14.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 60,782 | 50.1% | 0.9 pts (1,042 votes) | 121,425 | +0.9 pts | 11.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 70,034 | 55.6% | 12.8 pts (16,148 votes) | 126,031 | +13.9 pts | 12.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 61,732 | 51.9% | 5.5 pts (6,594 votes) | 118,984 | -7.4 pts | 11.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 55,713 | 47.1% | 0.1 pts (89 votes) | 118,376 | -5.6 pts | 18.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 64,056 | 50.2% | 2.5 pts (3,195 votes) | 127,709 | +2.5 pts | 14.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 59,942 | 49.4% | 0.6 pts (685 votes) | 121,347 | -2.0 pts | 10.6 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 | 278,981 | 39.2% of population |
| 2004 | 284,337 | 42.7% of population |
| 2008 | 295,726 | 42.6% of population |
| 2012 | 292,084 | 40.7% of population |
| 2016 | 286,065 | 41.4% of population |
| 2020 | 284,963 | 44.8% of population |
| 2024 | 283,790 | 42.8% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Winnebago shifted 2.3 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
Winnebago 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 Winnebago voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Winnebago 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 Winnebago?
Winnebago's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Hillary Clinton (Democratic) won by 0.1 points (89 votes) out of 118,376 total votes cast.
Has Winnebago ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Winnebago 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 Winnebago?
The widest margin on record for Winnebago was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 13.0 points.
How many votes were cast in Winnebago relative to its population?
In 2024, 121,347 votes were recorded in Winnebago against a total population of 283,790 (42.8% 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 Winnebago a presidential bellwether county?
Winnebago 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%).