Muskegon, Michigan — Presidential Election Results
Muskegon, Michigan has voted Democratic in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2024.
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 | Al Gore | Democratic | 37,865 | 54.7% | 11.3 pts (7,837 votes) | 69,270 | — | 6.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 44,282 | 55.1% | 11.2 pts (8,980 votes) | 80,313 | -0.3 pts | 7.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 53,821 | 63.9% | 29.3 pts (24,676 votes) | 84,271 | +18.5 pts | 13.0 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 44,436 | 58.3% | 17.8 pts (13,552 votes) | 76,163 | -11.7 pts | 8.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 37,304 | 47.8% | 1.5 pts (1,177 votes) | 78,088 | -16.4 pts | 1.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 45,643 | 49.4% | 0.6 pts (510 votes) | 92,444 | -1.0 pts | 2.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 47,733 | 50.1% | 1.8 pts (1,705 votes) | 95,181 | -2.4 pts | 0.4 pts more Rep. |
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 | 170,396 | 40.7% of population |
| 2004 | 172,771 | 46.5% of population |
| 2008 | 173,846 | 48.5% of population |
| 2012 | 170,159 | 44.8% of population |
| 2016 | 173,227 | 45.1% of population |
| 2020 | 174,794 | 52.9% of population |
| 2024 | 177,428 | 53.6% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Muskegon shifted 13.4 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
Muskegon has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Michigan Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Muskegon voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Muskegon has voted Democratic in 6 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 1 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Muskegon?
Muskegon's closest recorded margin was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 0.6 points (510 votes) out of 92,444 total votes cast.
Has Muskegon ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Muskegon changed which party won the county in: 2024, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Muskegon?
The widest margin on record for Muskegon was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 29.7 points.
How many votes were cast in Muskegon relative to its population?
In 2024, 95,181 votes were recorded in Muskegon against a total population of 177,428 (53.6% 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 Muskegon a presidential bellwether county?
Muskegon has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%).