Preston, West Virginia — Presidential Election Results
Preston, West Virginia has voted Republican in 7 of the last 7 presidential elections on record (2000–2024). In 2024, it was 15.5 pts more Rep. than West 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. West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | George W. Bush | Republican | 6,607 | 63.3% | 29.6 pts (3,092 votes) | 10,439 | — | 24.1 pts more Rep. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Republican | 7,855 | 65.8% | 32.6 pts (3,892 votes) | 11,929 | -2.4 pts | 20.0 pts more Rep. |
| 2008 | John McCain | Republican | 7,325 | 62.1% | 26.4 pts (3,120 votes) | 11,796 | +5.9 pts | 13.7 pts more Rep. |
| 2012 | Mitt Romney | Republican | 7,889 | 70.7% | 44.4 pts (4,958 votes) | 11,155 | -18.8 pts | 18.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Republican | 9,538 | 75.3% | 55.8 pts (7,068 votes) | 12,659 | -13.0 pts | 14.5 pts more Rep. |
| 2020 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 11,190 | 76.8% | 55.1 pts (8,027 votes) | 14,572 | +2.9 pts | 16.3 pts more Rep. |
| 2024 | Donald J Trump | Republican | 11,176 | 77.5% | 57.0 pts (8,223 votes) | 14,426 | -2.3 pts | 15.5 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 | 29,336 | 35.6% of population |
| 2004 | 30,961 | 38.5% of population |
| 2008 | 33,067 | 35.7% of population |
| 2012 | 33,898 | 32.9% of population |
| 2016 | 33,760 | 37.5% of population |
| 2020 | 34,191 | 42.6% of population |
| 2024 | 34,055 | 42.4% of population |
Trend
Between 2000 and 2024, the two-party presidential margin in Preston shifted 27.7 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
Preston has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and West Virginia's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%). Compare every county on the bellwether counties page.
Related Pages
Other West Virginia Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Preston voted in presidential elections since 2000?
Since 2000, Preston has voted Democratic in 0 of 7 recorded presidential elections and Republican in 7 of 7, based on county-level returns through 2024.
What was the closest presidential election in Preston?
Preston's closest recorded margin was in 2008, when John McCain (Republican) won by 27.1 points (3,120 votes) out of 11,796 total votes cast.
Has Preston ever flipped between parties?
Not in the 2000-2024 record on this page -- Preston has voted for the same party in every recorded presidential election in that span.
What is the largest presidential election margin recorded in Preston?
The widest margin on record for Preston was in 2016, when Donald Trump (Republican) won by 58.9 points.
How many votes were cast in Preston relative to its population?
In 2024, 14,426 votes were recorded in Preston against a total population of 34,055 (42.4% 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 Preston a presidential bellwether county?
Preston has matched the national popular winner in 4 of the last 7 presidential elections (57%), and West Virginia's own statewide winner in 7 of 7 (100%).