McDowell, North Carolina — Presidential Election Results
McDowell, North Carolina has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 46.3 pts more Rep. 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 | George W. Bush | Republican | 9,109 | 65.0% | 31.1 pts (4,362 votes) | 14,011 | — | 18.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 10,590 | 66.2% | 32.9 pts (5,260 votes) | 16,002 | -1.6 pts | 20.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 11,534 | 62.7% | 27.0 pts (4,963 votes) | 18,386 | +5.6 pts | 27.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 11,775 | 65.1% | 31.7 pts (5,744 votes) | 18,099 | -4.8 pts | 30.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 14,568 | 73.3% | 49.8 pts (9,901 votes) | 19,875 | -19.2 pts | 47.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 16,883 | 73.4% | 48.0 pts (11,051 votes) | 23,003 | +2.8 pts | 47.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 17,520 | 74.1% | 49.1 pts (11,609 votes) | 23,655 | -0.9 pts | 46.3 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 | 42,265 | 33.2% of population |
| 2004 | 43,390 | 36.9% of population |
| 2008 | 44,768 | 41.1% of population |
| 2012 | 44,999 | 40.2% of population |
| 2016 | 44,866 | 44.3% of population |
| 2020 | 44,554 | 51.6% of population |
| 2024 | 45,269 | 52.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in McDowell shifted 18.1 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
McDowell has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and North Carolina's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other North Carolina Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has McDowell voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, McDowell 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 McDowell?
McDowell's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 27.4 points (4,963 votes) out of 18,386 total votes cast.
Has McDowell ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- McDowell has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in McDowell?
The widest margin on record for McDowell was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 51.5 points.
How many votes were cast in McDowell relative to its population?
In 2024, 23,655 votes were recorded in McDowell against a total population of 45,269 (52.3% 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 McDowell a presidential bellwether county?
McDowell has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and North Carolina's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%).