Potter, South Dakota — Presidential Election Results
Potter, South Dakota has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 36.5 pts more Rep. 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 | 1,112 | 74.4% | 50.6 pts (756 votes) | 1,494 | — | 28.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 1,143 | 70.6% | 42.0 pts (680 votes) | 1,618 | +9.2 pts | 20.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 937 | 65.3% | 31.7 pts (455 votes) | 1,434 | +10.3 pts | 23.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 1,029 | 74.5% | 50.0 pts (690 votes) | 1,381 | -18.4 pts | 32.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 1,071 | 80.1% | 64.0 pts (856 votes) | 1,337 | -16.1 pts | 34.6 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 1,139 | 82.5% | 66.1 pts (912 votes) | 1,380 | -0.2 pts | 39.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 1,059 | 81.6% | 65.1 pts (845 votes) | 1,298 | +0.4 pts | 36.5 pts more Rep. |
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 | 2,679 | 55.8% of population |
| 2004 | 2,516 | 64.3% of population |
| 2008 | 2,285 | 62.8% of population |
| 2012 | 2,340 | 59.0% of population |
| 2016 | 2,256 | 59.3% of population |
| 2020 | 2,474 | 55.8% of population |
| 2024 | 2,402 | 54.0% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Potter shifted 14.9 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
Potter 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 Potter voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Potter 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 Potter?
Potter's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 32.1 points (455 votes) out of 1,434 total votes cast.
Has Potter ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Potter has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Potter?
The widest margin on record for Potter was in 2020, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 66.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Potter relative to its population?
In 2024, 1,298 votes were recorded in Potter against a total population of 2,402 (54.0% 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 Potter a presidential bellwether county?
Potter 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%).