Lorain, Ohio — Presidential Election Results
Lorain, Ohio has voted Democratic in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2020. In 2024, it was 5.5 pts more Dem. than Ohio 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. Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 59,809 | 53.3% | 10.6 pts (11,852 votes) | 112,180 | — | 14.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 78,965 | 56.1% | 12.6 pts (17,769 votes) | 140,730 | +1.7 pts | 14.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 85,276 | 58.1% | 17.8 pts (26,208 votes) | 146,859 | +5.5 pts | 13.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 81,464 | 56.9% | 15.4 pts (22,059 votes) | 143,253 | -2.5 pts | 12.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 66,949 | 47.6% | 0.1 pts (131 votes) | 140,562 | -15.6 pts | 8.6 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 79,520 | 50.5% | 2.4 pts (3,853 votes) | 157,437 | -2.6 pts | 5.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 83,297 | 52.4% | 5.7 pts (9,090 votes) | 159,007 | -3.3 pts | 5.5 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 | 285,095 | 39.3% of population |
| 2004 | 292,125 | 48.2% of population |
| 2008 | 299,814 | 49.0% of population |
| 2012 | 301,712 | 47.5% of population |
| 2016 | 306,607 | 45.8% of population |
| 2020 | 313,534 | 50.2% of population |
| 2024 | 322,030 | 49.4% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Lorain shifted 16.8 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
Lorain has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Ohio's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Ohio Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Lorain voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Lorain has voted Democratic in 5 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 2 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Lorain?
Lorain's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Hillary Clinton (Democratic) won by 0.1 points (131 votes) out of 140,562 total votes cast.
Has Lorain ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Lorain changed which party won the county in: 2020, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Lorain?
The widest margin on record for Lorain was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 18.2 points.
How many votes were cast in Lorain relative to its population?
In 2024, 159,007 votes were recorded in Lorain against a total population of 322,030 (49.4% 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 Lorain a presidential bellwether county?
Lorain has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Ohio's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).