Washington, Rhode Island — Presidential Election Results
Washington, Rhode Island has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 1.4 pts more Dem. than Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 29,560 | 52.6% | 14.8 pts (8,307 votes) | 56,224 | — | 15.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 34,679 | 55.5% | 13.0 pts (8,146 votes) | 62,486 | -3.0 pts | 7.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 39,082 | 59.1% | 20.3 pts (13,458 votes) | 66,160 | +7.5 pts | 7.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 35,888 | 57.1% | 16.7 pts (10,522 votes) | 62,879 | -3.6 pts | 10.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 33,741 | 50.8% | 9.8 pts (6,511 votes) | 66,369 | -6.5 pts | 5.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 44,549 | 58.6% | 19.4 pts (14,731 votes) | 76,060 | +9.1 pts | 1.2 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 42,589 | 56.0% | 14.9 pts (11,342 votes) | 76,036 | -4.4 pts | 1.4 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 | 123,943 | 45.4% of population |
| 2004 | 127,960 | 48.8% of population |
| 2008 | 126,672 | 52.2% of population |
| 2012 | 126,291 | 49.8% of population |
| 2016 | 126,129 | 52.6% of population |
| 2020 | 129,769 | 58.6% of population |
| 2024 | 130,333 | 58.3% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Washington shifted 1.0 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
Washington has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Rhode Island's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Rhode Island Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Washington voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Washington has voted Democratic in 7 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 0 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Washington?
Washington's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Hillary Clinton (Democratic) won by 10.7 points (6,511 votes) out of 66,369 total votes cast.
Has Washington ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Washington has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Washington?
The widest margin on record for Washington was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 20.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Washington relative to its population?
In 2024, 76,036 votes were recorded in Washington against a total population of 130,333 (58.3% 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 Washington a presidential bellwether county?
Washington has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Rhode Island's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%).