Durham, North Carolina — Presidential Election Results
Durham, North Carolina has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 66.2 pts more Dem. than North Carolina 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. North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 53,907 | 63.7% | 28.1 pts (23,757 votes) | 84,604 | — | 41.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 74,524 | 68.0% | 36.4 pts (39,910 votes) | 109,651 | +8.3 pts | 49.1 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 103,456 | 75.6% | 51.9 pts (71,103 votes) | 136,897 | +15.8 pts | 52.0 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 111,224 | 75.8% | 52.8 pts (77,455 votes) | 146,735 | +1.1 pts | 55.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 121,250 | 77.7% | 59.5 pts (92,900 votes) | 156,134 | +8.7 pts | 65.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 144,688 | 80.4% | 62.4 pts (112,229 votes) | 179,914 | +1.3 pts | 64.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 144,450 | 79.8% | 61.7 pts (111,597 votes) | 180,912 | -0.4 pts | 66.2 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 | 224,476 | 37.7% of population |
| 2004 | 238,376 | 46.0% of population |
| 2008 | 259,356 | 52.8% of population |
| 2012 | 282,659 | 51.9% of population |
| 2016 | 307,826 | 50.7% of population |
| 2020 | 322,505 | 55.8% of population |
| 2024 | 343,628 | 52.6% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Durham shifted 34.7 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
Durham has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and North Carolina's own statewide winner in 1 of 7 (14%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other North Carolina Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Durham voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Durham 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 Durham?
Durham's closest recorded margin was in 2000, when Al Gore (Democratic) won by 28.3 points (23,757 votes) out of 84,604 total votes cast.
Has Durham ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Durham has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Durham?
The widest margin on record for Durham was in 2020, when Joseph R Biden Jr (Democratic) won by 63.4 points.
How many votes were cast in Durham relative to its population?
In 2024, 180,912 votes were recorded in Durham against a total population of 343,628 (52.6% 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 Durham a presidential bellwether county?
Durham has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and North Carolina's own statewide winner in 1 of 7 (14%).