Otter Tail, Minnesota — Presidential Election Results
Otter Tail, Minnesota has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 39.1 pts more Rep. than Minnesota 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. Minnesota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 16,963 | 59.5% | 25.0 pts (7,119 votes) | 28,511 | — | 29.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 19,734 | 61.3% | 23.9 pts (7,696 votes) | 32,178 | +2.3 pts | 27.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 18,077 | 55.3% | 12.9 pts (4,221 votes) | 32,687 | +11.0 pts | 23.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 18,860 | 59.6% | 21.1 pts (6,695 votes) | 31,670 | -8.4 pts | 29.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 20,939 | 64.4% | 35.7 pts (11,599 votes) | 32,500 | -16.7 pts | 40.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 23,800 | 65.4% | 32.5 pts (11,842 votes) | 36,399 | +5.2 pts | 40.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 24,276 | 66.1% | 34.1 pts (12,524 votes) | 36,736 | -1.6 pts | 39.1 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 | 57,073 | 50.0% of population |
| 2004 | 57,576 | 55.9% of population |
| 2008 | 57,691 | 56.7% of population |
| 2012 | 57,216 | 55.4% of population |
| 2016 | 57,820 | 56.2% of population |
| 2020 | 60,068 | 60.6% of population |
| 2024 | 60,884 | 60.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Otter Tail shifted 8.2 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
Otter Tail has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Minnesota's own statewide winner in 0 of 7 (0%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Minnesota Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Otter Tail voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Otter Tail has voted Democratic in 0 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 7 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Otter Tail?
Otter Tail's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 13.2 points (4,221 votes) out of 32,687 total votes cast.
Has Otter Tail ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Otter Tail has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Otter Tail?
The widest margin on record for Otter Tail was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 38.3 points.
How many votes were cast in Otter Tail relative to its population?
In 2024, 36,736 votes were recorded in Otter Tail against a total population of 60,884 (60.3% 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 Otter Tail a presidential bellwether county?
Otter Tail has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Minnesota's own statewide winner in 0 of 7 (0%).