Portsmouth City, Virginia — Presidential Election Results
Portsmouth City, Virginia has voted Democratic in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 33.3 pts more Dem. than Virginia 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. Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 22,286 | 62.9% | 27.2 pts (9,658 votes) | 35,455 | — | 36.0 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 24,112 | 61.0% | 22.5 pts (8,900 votes) | 39,534 | -5.0 pts | 30.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 32,327 | 69.3% | 39.3 pts (18,343 votes) | 46,665 | +17.0 pts | 33.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 32,501 | 70.8% | 42.8 pts (19,643 votes) | 45,922 | +3.7 pts | 39.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton | Democratic | 28,497 | 65.9% | 36.3 pts (15,702 votes) | 43,265 | -5.3 pts | 32.4 pts more Dem. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 30,948 | 69.4% | 40.8 pts (18,193 votes) | 44,601 | +3.6 pts | 31.3 pts more Dem. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 28,306 | 68.6% | 38.6 pts (15,936 votes) | 41,252 | -2.5 pts | 33.3 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 | 100,337 | 35.3% of population |
| 2004 | 97,428 | 40.6% of population |
| 2008 | 95,802 | 48.7% of population |
| 2012 | 96,480 | 47.6% of population |
| 2016 | 95,165 | 45.5% of population |
| 2020 | 97,997 | 45.5% of population |
| 2024 | 96,482 | 42.8% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Portsmouth City shifted 11.5 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
Portsmouth City has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Virginia's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Virginia Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Portsmouth City voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City?
Portsmouth City's closest recorded margin was in 2004, when John Kerry (Democratic) won by 22.6 points (8,900 votes) out of 39,534 total votes cast.
Has Portsmouth City ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Portsmouth City has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Portsmouth City?
The widest margin on record for Portsmouth City was in 2012, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 43.3 points.
How many votes were cast in Portsmouth City relative to its population?
In 2024, 41,252 votes were recorded in Portsmouth City against a total population of 96,482 (42.8% 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 Portsmouth City a presidential bellwether county?
Portsmouth City has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and Virginia's own statewide winner in 5 of 7 (71%).