Brookings, South Dakota — Presidential Election Results
Brookings, South Dakota has voted Republican in 6 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2012. In 2024, it was 12.0 pts more Dem. than South 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. South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 6,212 | 56.6% | 15.2 pts (1,666 votes) | 10,984 | — | 7.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 7,662 | 57.3% | 16.6 pts (2,219 votes) | 13,375 | -1.4 pts | 4.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 7,207 | 52.3% | 5.6 pts (776 votes) | 13,789 | +22.6 pts | 14.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 6,220 | 50.2% | 3.2 pts (393 votes) | 12,400 | -9.0 pts | 15.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 6,748 | 53.2% | 14.7 pts (1,869 votes) | 12,680 | -12.8 pts | 15.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 8,000 | 54.9% | 13.0 pts (1,890 votes) | 14,567 | +2.7 pts | 13.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 8,575 | 57.4% | 17.4 pts (2,597 votes) | 14,939 | -4.5 pts | 12.0 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 | 28,342 | 38.8% of population |
| 2004 | 29,393 | 45.5% of population |
| 2008 | 31,363 | 44.0% of population |
| 2012 | 32,768 | 37.8% of population |
| 2016 | 34,301 | 37.0% of population |
| 2020 | 34,349 | 42.4% of population |
| 2024 | 36,359 | 41.1% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Brookings shifted 2.4 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
Brookings has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and South Dakota's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other South Dakota Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Brookings voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Brookings has voted Democratic in 1 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 6 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Brookings?
Brookings's closest recorded margin was in 2012, when Mitt Romney (Republican) won by 3.3 points (393 votes) out of 12,400 total votes cast.
Has Brookings ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Brookings changed which party won the county in: 2008, 2012, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Brookings?
The widest margin on record for Brookings was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 17.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Brookings relative to its population?
In 2024, 14,939 votes were recorded in Brookings against a total population of 36,359 (41.1% 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 Brookings a presidential bellwether county?
Brookings has matched the national popular winner in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections (71%), and South Dakota's own statewide winner in 6 of 7 (86%).