Washington, Minnesota — Presidential Election Results
Washington, Minnesota has voted Democratic in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2008. In 2024, it was 4.7 pts more Dem. 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 | 51,502 | 48.1% | 1.7 pts (1,865 votes) | 107,009 | — | 4.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 65,751 | 51.2% | 3.4 pts (4,356 votes) | 128,449 | -1.6 pts | 6.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 70,277 | 51.3% | 4.3 pts (5,943 votes) | 137,059 | +7.8 pts | 6.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 70,203 | 49.4% | 0.8 pts (1,066 votes) | 142,133 | -3.6 pts | 7.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 67,086 | 46.5% | 1.8 pts (2,658 votes) | 144,235 | +1.3 pts | 0.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 89,165 | 53.5% | 9.2 pts (15,401 votes) | 166,786 | +7.4 pts | 2.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 90,324 | 53.3% | 8.9 pts (15,053 votes) | 169,536 | -0.4 pts | 4.7 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 | 202,686 | 52.8% of population |
| 2004 | 215,937 | 59.5% of population |
| 2008 | 233,306 | 58.7% of population |
| 2012 | 243,682 | 58.3% of population |
| 2016 | 252,502 | 57.1% of population |
| 2020 | 268,400 | 62.1% of population |
| 2024 | 283,960 | 59.7% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Washington shifted 10.9 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
Washington has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Minnesota's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Minnesota Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Washington voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Washington has voted Democratic in 5 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 2 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Washington?
Washington's closest recorded margin was in 2012, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 0.8 points (1,066 votes) out of 142,133 total votes cast.
Has Washington ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Washington changed which party won the county in: 2008, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Washington?
The widest margin on record for Washington was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 9.5 points.
How many votes were cast in Washington relative to its population?
In 2024, 169,536 votes were recorded in Washington against a total population of 283,960 (59.7% 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 Washington a presidential bellwether county?
Washington has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Minnesota's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).