Fayette, Kentucky — Presidential Election Results
Fayette, Kentucky 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 49.5 pts more Dem. than Kentucky 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. Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 54,495 | 51.7% | 6.8 pts (7,218 votes) | 105,477 | — | 8.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 66,406 | 52.9% | 6.7 pts (8,412 votes) | 125,576 | +0.3 pts | 13.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 66,042 | 51.7% | 4.8 pts (6,158 votes) | 127,639 | +11.7 pts | 21.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 62,080 | 49.3% | 1.0 pts (1,285 votes) | 125,866 | -3.8 pts | 24.1 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 69,778 | 51.2% | 9.5 pts (12,884 votes) | 136,315 | +9.1 pts | 41.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 90,566 | 59.3% | 20.8 pts (31,721 votes) | 152,664 | +11.1 pts | 47.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 83,387 | 57.9% | 18.1 pts (26,040 votes) | 143,935 | -2.7 pts | 49.5 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 | 261,408 | 40.3% of population |
| 2004 | 272,377 | 46.1% of population |
| 2008 | 287,683 | 44.4% of population |
| 2012 | 305,947 | 41.1% of population |
| 2016 | 319,644 | 42.6% of population |
| 2020 | 322,628 | 47.3% of population |
| 2024 | 329,437 | 43.7% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Fayette shifted 25.6 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
Fayette has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Kentucky's own statewide winner in 2 of 7 (29%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Kentucky Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Fayette voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Fayette 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 Fayette?
Fayette's closest recorded margin was in 2012, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 1.0 points (1,285 votes) out of 125,866 total votes cast.
Has Fayette ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Fayette 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 Fayette?
The widest margin on record for Fayette was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 21.2 points.
How many votes were cast in Fayette relative to its population?
In 2024, 143,935 votes were recorded in Fayette against a total population of 329,437 (43.7% 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 Fayette a presidential bellwether county?
Fayette has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Kentucky's own statewide winner in 2 of 7 (29%).