Des Moines, Iowa — Presidential Election Results
Des Moines, Iowa has voted Democratic in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2016. In 2024, it was 1.8 pts more Rep. than Iowa 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. Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 11,351 | 58.6% | 20.5 pts (3,966 votes) | 19,365 | — | 20.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 12,456 | 59.7% | 20.3 pts (4,235 votes) | 20,874 | -0.7 pts | 21.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 12,462 | 60.6% | 23.0 pts (4,741 votes) | 20,570 | +3.0 pts | 13.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 11,888 | 58.3% | 18.4 pts (3,752 votes) | 20,385 | -4.8 pts | 12.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 9,529 | 49.9% | 6.9 pts (1,317 votes) | 19,103 | -26.2 pts | 2.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 10,642 | 53.3% | 8.8 pts (1,749 votes) | 19,956 | -1.5 pts | 0.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 10,794 | 56.6% | 15.0 pts (2,859 votes) | 19,054 | -6.3 pts | 1.8 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 | 42,253 | 45.8% of population |
| 2004 | 40,562 | 51.5% of population |
| 2008 | 40,235 | 51.1% of population |
| 2012 | 40,229 | 50.7% of population |
| 2016 | 39,613 | 48.2% of population |
| 2020 | 38,856 | 51.4% of population |
| 2024 | 38,411 | 49.6% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Des Moines shifted 36.4 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
Des Moines has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Iowa's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Iowa Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Des Moines voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Des Moines has voted Democratic in 4 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 3 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Des Moines?
Des Moines's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 7.4 points (1,317 votes) out of 19,103 total votes cast.
Has Des Moines ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Des Moines changed which party won the county in: 2016, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Des Moines?
The widest margin on record for Des Moines was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 23.5 points.
How many votes were cast in Des Moines relative to its population?
In 2024, 19,054 votes were recorded in Des Moines against a total population of 38,411 (49.6% 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 Des Moines a presidential bellwether county?
Des Moines has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Iowa's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%).