Hays, Texas — Presidential Election Results
Hays, Texas has voted Republican in 5 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Democratic in 2020. In 2024, it was 19.6 pts more Dem. than Texas 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. Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 20,170 | 58.8% | 25.6 pts (8,783 votes) | 34,317 | — | 5.9 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 27,021 | 56.5% | 14.5 pts (6,911 votes) | 47,823 | +13.2 pts | 8.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 29,638 | 50.2% | 2.0 pts (1,207 votes) | 59,052 | +12.6 pts | 9.8 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 31,661 | 53.7% | 10.4 pts (6,124 votes) | 59,011 | -8.6 pts | 5.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 33,826 | 46.9% | 0.8 pts (602 votes) | 72,164 | +9.8 pts | 8.5 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 59,524 | 54.4% | 10.8 pts (11,844 votes) | 109,395 | +11.9 pts | 16.7 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 65,528 | 52.1% | 5.6 pts (7,090 votes) | 125,827 | -5.3 pts | 19.6 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 | 99,267 | 34.6% of population |
| 2004 | 119,395 | 40.1% of population |
| 2008 | 147,674 | 40.0% of population |
| 2012 | 168,519 | 35.0% of population |
| 2016 | 204,546 | 35.3% of population |
| 2020 | 243,988 | 44.8% of population |
| 2024 | 292,029 | 43.1% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Hays shifted 33.6 points toward the Democratic 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
Hays has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Texas's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Texas Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Hays voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Hays has voted Democratic in 2 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 5 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Hays?
Hays's closest recorded margin was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 0.9 points (602 votes) out of 72,164 total votes cast.
Has Hays ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Hays 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 Hays?
The widest margin on record for Hays was in 2000, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 27.8 points.
How many votes were cast in Hays relative to its population?
In 2024, 125,827 votes were recorded in Hays against a total population of 292,029 (43.1% 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 Hays a presidential bellwether county?
Hays has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Texas's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).