Lincoln, South Dakota — Presidential Election Results
Lincoln, South Dakota has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 2.8 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 | 6,546 | 62.0% | 25.6 pts (2,702 votes) | 10,556 | — | 2.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 11,161 | 65.4% | 32.0 pts (5,458 votes) | 17,066 | -6.4 pts | 10.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 11,803 | 57.3% | 15.3 pts (3,161 votes) | 20,601 | +16.9 pts | 6.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 13,611 | 62.0% | 25.6 pts (5,629 votes) | 21,952 | -10.6 pts | 7.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 15,499 | 61.4% | 29.4 pts (7,423 votes) | 25,231 | -5.4 pts | 0.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 19,617 | 60.6% | 23.6 pts (7,636 votes) | 32,396 | +7.3 pts | 2.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 22,621 | 62.2% | 26.5 pts (9,640 votes) | 36,393 | -2.9 pts | 2.8 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 | 24,557 | 43.0% of population |
| 2004 | 32,343 | 52.8% of population |
| 2008 | 41,590 | 49.5% of population |
| 2012 | 48,399 | 45.4% of population |
| 2016 | 54,567 | 46.2% of population |
| 2020 | 65,648 | 49.3% of population |
| 2024 | 75,244 | 48.4% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Lincoln shifted 1.1 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
Lincoln has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and South Dakota's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other South Dakota Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Lincoln voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Lincoln 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 15.5 points (3,161 votes) out of 20,601 total votes cast.
Has Lincoln ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Lincoln has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Lincoln?
The widest margin on record for Lincoln was in 2004, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 32.4 points.
How many votes were cast in Lincoln relative to its population?
In 2024, 36,393 votes were recorded in Lincoln against a total population of 75,244 (48.4% 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 Lincoln a presidential bellwether county?
Lincoln has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and South Dakota's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%).