Virginia Beach City, Virginia — Presidential Election Results
Virginia Beach City, Virginia 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 3.2 pts more Rep. 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 | George W. Bush | Republican | 83,674 | 55.9% | 14.3 pts (21,406 votes) | 149,771 | — | 6.4 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 103,752 | 59.1% | 18.8 pts (33,086 votes) | 175,687 | -4.3 pts | 10.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 100,319 | 49.8% | 0.7 pts (1,434 votes) | 201,249 | +18.2 pts | 7.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 99,291 | 50.5% | 2.5 pts (4,992 votes) | 196,641 | -1.9 pts | 6.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 98,224 | 48.3% | 3.5 pts (7,192 votes) | 203,262 | -1.2 pts | 9.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Joseph R Biden Jr | Democratic | 117,393 | 51.6% | 5.4 pts (12,306 votes) | 227,717 | +9.3 pts | 4.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Kamala D Harris | Democratic | 115,412 | 50.7% | 2.7 pts (6,037 votes) | 227,770 | -2.8 pts | 3.2 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 | 426,918 | 35.1% of population |
| 2004 | 437,494 | 40.2% of population |
| 2008 | 433,331 | 46.4% of population |
| 2012 | 445,044 | 44.2% of population |
| 2016 | 450,983 | 45.1% of population |
| 2020 | 459,673 | 49.5% of population |
| 2024 | 454,808 | 50.1% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Virginia Beach City shifted 17.4 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
Virginia Beach City has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Virginia's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Virginia Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Virginia Beach City voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City?
Virginia Beach City's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 0.7 points (1,434 votes) out of 201,249 total votes cast.
Has Virginia Beach City ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City?
The widest margin on record for Virginia Beach City was in 2004, when George W. Bush (Republican) won by 19.0 points.
How many votes were cast in Virginia Beach City relative to its population?
In 2024, 227,770 votes were recorded in Virginia Beach City against a total population of 454,808 (50.1% 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 Virginia Beach City a presidential bellwether county?
Virginia Beach City has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Virginia's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).