Wilkes, North Carolina — Presidential Election Results
Wilkes, North Carolina has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 56.8 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 | 16,826 | 69.2% | 39.5 pts (9,600 votes) | 24,323 | — | 27.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 19,197 | 70.7% | 41.7 pts (11,335 votes) | 27,154 | -2.0 pts | 29.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 20,288 | 68.3% | 38.2 pts (11,354 votes) | 29,724 | +3.0 pts | 39.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 20,515 | 70.4% | 42.4 pts (12,367 votes) | 29,145 | -4.3 pts | 41.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 23,752 | 75.9% | 54.7 pts (17,114 votes) | 31,296 | -13.2 pts | 52.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 27,592 | 77.8% | 56.6 pts (20,081 votes) | 35,466 | -0.9 pts | 55.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 28,812 | 79.3% | 59.5 pts (21,618 votes) | 36,320 | -2.8 pts | 56.8 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 | 65,839 | 36.9% of population |
| 2004 | 67,668 | 40.1% of population |
| 2008 | 69,317 | 42.9% of population |
| 2012 | 68,906 | 42.3% of population |
| 2016 | 68,581 | 45.6% of population |
| 2020 | 65,872 | 53.8% of population |
| 2024 | 66,186 | 54.9% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Wilkes shifted 20.1 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
Wilkes 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 Wilkes voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Wilkes 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 Wilkes?
Wilkes's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 38.9 points (11,354 votes) out of 29,724 total votes cast.
Has Wilkes ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Wilkes has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Wilkes?
The widest margin on record for Wilkes was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 60.0 points.
How many votes were cast in Wilkes relative to its population?
In 2024, 36,320 votes were recorded in Wilkes against a total population of 66,186 (54.9% 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 Wilkes a presidential bellwether county?
Wilkes 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%).