Benson, North Dakota — Presidential Election Results
Benson, North Dakota has voted Republican in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2016. In 2024, it was 18.6 pts more Dem. than North Dakota 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 Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 1,055 | 49.0% | 4.8 pts (103 votes) | 2,154 | — | 24.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 1,196 | 53.3% | 8.6 pts (194 votes) | 2,246 | +14.0 pts | 36.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 1,569 | 66.1% | 33.5 pts (796 votes) | 2,374 | +25.2 pts | 42.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 1,235 | 57.3% | 17.0 pts (367 votes) | 2,157 | -16.5 pts | 37.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 929 | 46.2% | 4.3 pts (87 votes) | 2,011 | -22.4 pts | 34.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 1,094 | 55.8% | 13.9 pts (272 votes) | 1,961 | -9.3 pts | 20.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 1,163 | 58.1% | 18.4 pts (368 votes) | 2,002 | -4.6 pts | 18.6 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 | 6,943 | 31.0% of population |
| 2004 | 6,788 | 33.1% of population |
| 2008 | 6,622 | 35.9% of population |
| 2012 | 6,771 | 31.9% of population |
| 2016 | 6,840 | 29.4% of population |
| 2020 | 5,940 | 33.0% of population |
| 2024 | 5,756 | 34.8% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Benson shifted 13.7 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
Benson has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and North Dakota's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other North Dakota Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Benson voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Benson has voted Democratic in 3 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 4 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Benson?
Benson's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 4.9 points (87 votes) out of 2,011 total votes cast.
Has Benson ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Benson changed which party won the county in: 2004, 2016, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Benson?
The widest margin on record for Benson was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 34.0 points.
How many votes were cast in Benson relative to its population?
In 2024, 2,002 votes were recorded in Benson against a total population of 5,756 (34.8% 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 Benson a presidential bellwether county?
Benson has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and North Dakota's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).