McDowell, West Virginia — Presidential Election Results
McDowell, West Virginia has voted Republican in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). It most recently flipped to Republican in 2012. In 2024, it was 18.6 pts more Rep. than West Virginia overall.
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Full Election History, 2000–2024
| Year | Winner | Party | Votes | Vote Share | Margin | Total Votes Cast | Swing | Vs. West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Al Gore | Democratic | 4,845 | 66.3% | 34.2 pts (2,497 votes) | 7,303 | — | 41.2 pts more Dem. |
| 2004 | John Kerry | Democratic | 4,501 | 61.7% | 23.8 pts (1,739 votes) | 7,299 | -10.8 pts | 36.9 pts more Dem. |
| 2008 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 3,430 | 53.3% | 8.5 pts (548 votes) | 6,430 | -15.3 pts | 22.0 pts more Dem. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 3,959 | 64.0% | 29.9 pts (1,850 votes) | 6,188 | -39.2 pts | 3.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 4,629 | 74.6% | 51.4 pts (3,191 votes) | 6,203 | -22.1 pts | 8.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 5,148 | 78.9% | 58.4 pts (3,815 votes) | 6,527 | -6.3 pts | 19.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 4,310 | 79.4% | 60.4 pts (3,274 votes) | 5,425 | -2.4 pts | 18.6 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 | 27,099 | 26.9% of population |
| 2004 | 24,264 | 30.1% of population |
| 2008 | 22,494 | 28.6% of population |
| 2012 | 21,318 | 29.0% of population |
| 2016 | 19,192 | 32.3% of population |
| 2020 | 18,939 | 34.5% of population |
| 2024 | 17,147 | 31.6% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in McDowell shifted 96.0 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
McDowell has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and West Virginia's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other West Virginia Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has McDowell voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, McDowell has voted Democratic in 3 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 4 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in McDowell?
McDowell's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when Barack Obama (Democratic) won by 8.7 points (548 votes) out of 6,430 total votes cast.
Has McDowell ever flipped between parties?
Yes. McDowell changed which party won the county in: 2012, based on the 2000-2024 record on this page.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in McDowell?
The widest margin on record for McDowell was in 2024, when Donald J Trump (Republican) won by 61.2 points.
How many votes were cast in McDowell relative to its population?
In 2024, 5,425 votes were recorded in McDowell against a total population of 17,147 (31.6% 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 McDowell a presidential bellwether county?
McDowell has matched the national popular winner in 3 of the last 7 presidential elections (43%), and West Virginia's own statewide winner in 4 of 7 (57%).