Howard, Maryland — Presidential Election Results
Howard, Maryland has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 13.7 pts more Dem. than Maryland 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. Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 58,556 | 51.9% | 7.8 pts (8,747 votes) | 112,779 | — | 8.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 72,257 | 54.0% | 9.4 pts (12,533 votes) | 133,810 | +1.4 pts | 3.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 87,120 | 60.0% | 21.8 pts (31,727 votes) | 145,233 | +12.8 pts | 3.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 91,393 | 59.7% | 22.0 pts (33,635 votes) | 153,108 | +0.3 pts | 4.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 102,597 | 63.3% | 34.0 pts (55,113 votes) | 162,193 | +14.2 pts | 8.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 129,433 | 70.7% | 44.3 pts (81,043 votes) | 183,062 | +8.9 pts | 11.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 124,764 | 68.4% | 41.3 pts (75,339 votes) | 182,291 | -2.3 pts | 13.7 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 | 249,590 | 45.2% of population |
| 2004 | 265,919 | 50.3% of population |
| 2008 | 278,405 | 52.2% of population |
| 2012 | 299,184 | 51.2% of population |
| 2016 | 315,416 | 51.4% of population |
| 2020 | 332,821 | 55.0% of population |
| 2024 | 339,668 | 53.7% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Howard shifted 35.2 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
Howard has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Maryland's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Maryland Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Howard voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Howard has voted Democratic in 7 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 0 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Howard?
Howard's closest recorded margin was in 2000, when Al Gore (Democratic) won by 8.1 points (8,747 votes) out of 112,779 total votes cast.
Has Howard ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Howard has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Howard?
The widest margin on record for Howard was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 45.6 points.
How many votes were cast in Howard relative to its population?
In 2024, 182,291 votes were recorded in Howard against a total population of 339,668 (53.7% 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 Howard a presidential bellwether county?
Howard has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Maryland's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%).