Franklin, Kentucky — Presidential Election Results
Franklin, Kentucky has voted Republican in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2016. In 2024, it was 26.1 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 | Al Gore | Democratic | 10,853 | 50.1% | 3.0 pts (644 votes) | 21,654 | — | 18.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 12,281 | 50.9% | 2.7 pts (661 votes) | 24,133 | -5.8 pts | 17.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 11,911 | 49.5% | 0.6 pts (144 votes) | 24,079 | +2.2 pts | 15.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 11,535 | 49.4% | 0.8 pts (190 votes) | 23,337 | +1.4 pts | 23.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 11,819 | 49.5% | 4.6 pts (1,102 votes) | 23,865 | -5.7 pts | 26.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 12,900 | 49.5% | 1.0 pts (250 votes) | 26,059 | +3.9 pts | 25.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 13,246 | 51.4% | 4.9 pts (1,250 votes) | 25,763 | -4.0 pts | 26.1 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 | 47,888 | 45.2% of population |
| 2004 | 48,536 | 49.7% of population |
| 2008 | 49,301 | 48.8% of population |
| 2012 | 49,453 | 47.2% of population |
| 2016 | 50,292 | 47.5% of population |
| 2020 | 51,603 | 50.5% of population |
| 2024 | 52,442 | 49.1% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Franklin shifted 8.0 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
Franklin has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Kentucky's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Kentucky Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Franklin voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Franklin 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 Franklin?
Franklin's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 0.6 points (144 votes) out of 24,079 total votes cast.
Has Franklin ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Franklin changed which party won the county in: 2004, 2012, 2016, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Franklin?
The widest margin on record for Franklin was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 5.0 points.
How many votes were cast in Franklin relative to its population?
In 2024, 25,763 votes were recorded in Franklin against a total population of 52,442 (49.1% 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 Franklin a presidential bellwether county?
Franklin has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Kentucky's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).