Cowlitz, Washington — Presidential Election Results
Cowlitz, Washington has voted Democratic in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2016. In 2024, it was 39.4 pts more Rep. than Washington 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. Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 18,233 | 49.3% | 3.7 pts (1,360 votes) | 36,957 | — | 2.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 21,589 | 50.8% | 3.2 pts (1,372 votes) | 42,473 | -0.6 pts | 4.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 24,597 | 54.4% | 11.1 pts (5,043 votes) | 45,229 | +8.1 pts | 6.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 22,726 | 50.9% | 4.4 pts (1,980 votes) | 44,620 | -6.9 pts | 10.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 24,185 | 52.9% | 13.7 pts (6,277 votes) | 45,692 | -19.5 pts | 32.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 34,424 | 57.1% | 17.4 pts (10,486 votes) | 60,280 | -3.1 pts | 37.8 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 34,580 | 58.3% | 19.8 pts (11,755 votes) | 59,325 | -2.5 pts | 39.4 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 | 92,984 | 39.7% of population |
| 2004 | 95,541 | 44.5% of population |
| 2008 | 101,688 | 44.5% of population |
| 2012 | 101,663 | 43.9% of population |
| 2016 | 104,740 | 43.6% of population |
| 2020 | 111,021 | 54.3% of population |
| 2024 | 113,982 | 52.0% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Cowlitz shifted 24.4 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
Cowlitz has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Washington's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other Washington Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Cowlitz voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Cowlitz has voted Democratic in 4 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 3 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Cowlitz?
Cowlitz's closest recorded margin was in 2004, when John Kerry (Democratic) won by 3.3 points (1,372 votes) out of 42,473 total votes cast.
Has Cowlitz ever flipped between parties?
Yes. Cowlitz changed which party won the county in: 2016, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Cowlitz?
The widest margin on record for Cowlitz was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 20.5 points.
How many votes were cast in Cowlitz relative to its population?
In 2024, 59,325 votes were recorded in Cowlitz against a total population of 113,982 (52.0% 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 Cowlitz a presidential bellwether county?
Cowlitz has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and Washington's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).