Kent, Michigan — Presidential Election Results
Kent, Michigan has voted Republican in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2020. In 2024, it was 6.9 pts more Dem. than Michigan 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. Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 148,602 | 59.4% | 21.2 pts (53,160 votes) | 250,318 | — | 27.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 171,201 | 58.9% | 18.7 pts (54,292 votes) | 290,891 | +2.9 pts | 22.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 149,909 | 49.4% | 0.5 pts (1,573 votes) | 303,235 | +19.4 pts | 16.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 155,925 | 53.2% | 7.7 pts (22,517 votes) | 292,985 | -8.3 pts | 17.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 148,180 | 48.1% | 3.1 pts (9,497 votes) | 308,184 | +4.5 pts | 3.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 187,915 | 52.0% | 6.1 pts (22,174 votes) | 361,048 | +9.6 pts | 3.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 192,668 | 51.8% | 5.4 pts (19,948 votes) | 371,947 | -0.8 pts | 6.9 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 | 576,178 | 43.4% of population |
| 2004 | 589,554 | 49.3% of population |
| 2008 | 599,234 | 50.6% of population |
| 2012 | 615,798 | 47.6% of population |
| 2016 | 643,858 | 47.9% of population |
| 2020 | 658,524 | 54.8% of population |
| 2024 | 673,002 | 55.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Kent shifted 27.2 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
Kent has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 3 of 7 (43%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Michigan Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Kent voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Kent has voted Democratic in 3 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 4 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Kent?
Kent's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 0.5 points (1,573 votes) out of 303,235 total votes cast.
Has Kent ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Kent changed which party won the county in: 2008, 2012, 2020, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Kent?
The widest margin on record for Kent was in 2000, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 21.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Kent relative to its population?
In 2024, 371,947 votes were recorded in Kent against a total population of 673,002 (55.3% 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 Kent a presidential bellwether county?
Kent has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 3 of 7 (43%).