Riley, Kansas — Presidential Election Results
Riley, Kansas has voted Republican in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2020. In 2024, it was 18.2 pts more Dem. than Kansas 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. Kansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 10,672 | 58.5% | 24.6 pts (4,484 votes) | 18,253 | — | 4.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 12,672 | 60.6% | 22.8 pts (4,764 votes) | 20,911 | +3.4 pts | 2.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 12,111 | 52.7% | 7.0 pts (1,616 votes) | 22,997 | +16.0 pts | 8.1 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 11,507 | 54.5% | 12.0 pts (2,530 votes) | 21,101 | -5.2 pts | 9.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 10,107 | 46.9% | 3.6 pts (766 votes) | 21,532 | +8.4 pts | 18.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 12,765 | 50.7% | 4.6 pts (1,155 votes) | 25,171 | +8.7 pts | 19.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 12,063 | 49.6% | 1.8 pts (433 votes) | 24,313 | -2.9 pts | 18.2 pts more Dem. |
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 | 63,237 | 28.9% of population |
| 2004 | 64,218 | 32.6% of population |
| 2008 | 69,444 | 33.1% of population |
| 2012 | 77,497 | 27.2% of population |
| 2016 | 75,172 | 28.6% of population |
| 2020 | 72,011 | 35.0% of population |
| 2024 | 72,557 | 33.5% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Riley shifted 28.4 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
Riley has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Kansas's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Kansas Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Riley voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Riley has voted Democratic in 2 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 5 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Riley?
Riley's closest recorded margin was in 2024, when Kamala D Harris (Democratic) won by 1.8 points (433 votes) out of 24,313 total votes cast.
Has Riley ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Riley changed which party won the county in: 2020, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Riley?
The widest margin on record for Riley was in 2000, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 26.6 points.
How many votes were cast in Riley relative to its population?
In 2024, 24,313 votes were recorded in Riley against a total population of 72,557 (33.5% 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 Riley a presidential bellwether county?
Riley has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Kansas's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).