Washtenaw, Michigan — Presidential Election Results
Washtenaw, Michigan has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 47.0 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 | Al Gore | Democratic | 86,647 | 59.8% | 23.6 pts (34,188 votes) | 144,940 | — | 19.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 109,953 | 63.5% | 28.0 pts (48,498 votes) | 173,264 | +3.7 pts | 24.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 130,578 | 69.8% | 41.0 pts (76,632 votes) | 187,115 | +13.2 pts | 24.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 120,890 | 67.3% | 35.9 pts (64,478 votes) | 179,592 | -5.2 pts | 26.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 128,483 | 68.1% | 41.3 pts (77,852 votes) | 188,578 | +7.1 pts | 43.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 157,136 | 72.6% | 46.6 pts (100,895 votes) | 216,418 | +3.8 pts | 44.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 157,152 | 70.9% | 44.4 pts (98,308 votes) | 221,542 | -1.8 pts | 47.0 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 | 324,372 | 44.7% of population |
| 2004 | 339,422 | 51.0% of population |
| 2008 | 341,595 | 54.8% of population |
| 2012 | 352,303 | 51.0% of population |
| 2016 | 366,135 | 51.5% of population |
| 2020 | 371,849 | 58.2% of population |
| 2024 | 373,875 | 59.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Washtenaw shifted 20.9 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
Washtenaw has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Michigan Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Washtenaw voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw?
Washtenaw's closest recorded margin was in 2000, when Al Gore (Democratic) won by 24.6 points (34,188 votes) out of 144,940 total votes cast.
Has Washtenaw ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Washtenaw has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Washtenaw?
The widest margin on record for Washtenaw was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 47.3 points.
How many votes were cast in Washtenaw relative to its population?
In 2024, 221,542 votes were recorded in Washtenaw against a total population of 373,875 (59.3% 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 Washtenaw a presidential bellwether county?
Washtenaw has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Michigan's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).