Schenectady, New York — Presidential Election Results
Schenectady, New York has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 1.9 pts more Rep. than New York 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. New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 35,534 | 53.1% | 11.3 pts (7,573 votes) | 66,946 | — | 14.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 34,762 | 50.0% | 6.9 pts (4,760 votes) | 69,469 | -4.6 pts | 12.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 38,611 | 55.3% | 12.7 pts (8,853 votes) | 69,778 | +5.6 pts | 14.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 35,330 | 54.4% | 19.1 pts (12,378 votes) | 64,933 | +8.3 pts | 10.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 33,747 | 50.2% | 7.1 pts (4,794 votes) | 67,280 | -13.6 pts | 15.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 42,465 | 56.3% | 15.6 pts (11,724 votes) | 75,381 | +8.4 pts | 7.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 39,733 | 55.1% | 10.8 pts (7,758 votes) | 72,165 | -5.2 pts | 1.9 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 | 146,581 | 45.7% of population |
| 2004 | 148,900 | 46.7% of population |
| 2008 | 153,360 | 45.5% of population |
| 2012 | 155,016 | 41.9% of population |
| 2016 | 154,475 | 43.6% of population |
| 2020 | 159,294 | 47.3% of population |
| 2024 | 162,261 | 44.5% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Schenectady shifted 1.1 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
Schenectady has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and New York's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other New York Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Schenectady voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Schenectady 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 Schenectady?
Schenectady's closest recorded margin was in 2004, when John Kerry (Democratic) won by 7.3 points (4,760 votes) out of 69,469 total votes cast.
Has Schenectady ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Schenectady has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Schenectady?
The widest margin on record for Schenectady was in 2012, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 21.2 points.
How many votes were cast in Schenectady relative to its population?
In 2024, 72,165 votes were recorded in Schenectady against a total population of 162,261 (44.5% 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 Schenectady a presidential bellwether county?
Schenectady has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and New York's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%).