Washoe, Nevada — Presidential Election Results
Washoe, Nevada 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 4.2 pts more Dem. than Nevada 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. Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 63,640 | 52.0% | 9.4 pts (11,543 votes) | 122,301 | — | 6.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 81,545 | 51.3% | 4.2 pts (6,704 votes) | 159,079 | +5.7 pts | 1.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 99,671 | 55.2% | 12.6 pts (22,791 votes) | 180,414 | +17.2 pts | 0.1 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 95,409 | 50.8% | 3.7 pts (6,956 votes) | 187,855 | -9.1 pts | 3.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 97,379 | 46.4% | 1.2 pts (2,621 votes) | 209,909 | -2.4 pts | 1.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 128,052 | 50.8% | 4.5 pts (11,399 votes) | 251,956 | +3.3 pts | 2.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 130,071 | 49.3% | 1.0 pts (2,628 votes) | 263,734 | -3.6 pts | 4.2 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 | 341,389 | 35.8% of population |
| 2004 | 382,777 | 41.6% of population |
| 2008 | 414,793 | 43.5% of population |
| 2012 | 427,370 | 44.0% of population |
| 2016 | 449,723 | 46.7% of population |
| 2020 | 487,725 | 51.7% of population |
| 2024 | 507,280 | 52.0% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Washoe shifted 11.0 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
Washoe has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Nevada's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Nevada Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Washoe voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Washoe 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 Washoe?
Washoe's closest recorded margin was in 2024, when Kamala D Harris (Democratic) won by 1.0 points (2,628 votes) out of 263,734 total votes cast.
Has Washoe ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Washoe 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 Washoe?
The widest margin on record for Washoe was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 12.9 points.
How many votes were cast in Washoe relative to its population?
In 2024, 263,734 votes were recorded in Washoe against a total population of 507,280 (52.0% 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 Washoe a presidential bellwether county?
Washoe has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and Nevada's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%).