Rutherford, North Carolina — Presidential Election Results
Rutherford, North Carolina has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 44.9 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 | 13,755 | 63.3% | 27.9 pts (6,058 votes) | 21,716 | — | 15.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 16,343 | 66.3% | 33.1 pts (8,159 votes) | 24,658 | -5.0 pts | 20.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 18,769 | 65.4% | 31.8 pts (9,128 votes) | 28,720 | +1.1 pts | 32.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 18,954 | 66.0% | 33.4 pts (9,580 votes) | 28,702 | -1.7 pts | 31.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 21,871 | 72.2% | 47.4 pts (14,359 votes) | 30,307 | -15.1 pts | 45.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 24,891 | 72.3% | 45.8 pts (15,756 votes) | 34,429 | +2.6 pts | 44.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 25,456 | 73.4% | 47.7 pts (16,542 votes) | 34,670 | -1.8 pts | 44.9 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 | 63,064 | 34.4% of population |
| 2004 | 64,692 | 38.1% of population |
| 2008 | 67,145 | 42.8% of population |
| 2012 | 67,215 | 42.7% of population |
| 2016 | 66,286 | 45.7% of population |
| 2020 | 64,357 | 53.5% of population |
| 2024 | 65,587 | 52.9% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Rutherford shifted 19.9 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
Rutherford 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 Rutherford voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Rutherford 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 Rutherford?
Rutherford's closest recorded margin was in 2000, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 28.2 points (6,058 votes) out of 21,716 total votes cast.
Has Rutherford ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Rutherford has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Rutherford?
The widest margin on record for Rutherford was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 48.9 points.
How many votes were cast in Rutherford relative to its population?
In 2024, 34,670 votes were recorded in Rutherford against a total population of 65,587 (52.9% 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 Rutherford a presidential bellwether county?
Rutherford 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%).