Portage County, Ohio: Declining Industrial Metro
Ohio · Presidential Elections 1892–2024
R+15.4
2024 Margin
R+3.0%
2020→2024 Swing
R since 2016
Voting Streak
🏭 Rust Belt
Classification
162K
Population
Portage County, Ohio voted R+15.4 for Donald Trump in 2024, with Trump receiving 47,681 votes (57.02%). This represented a R+3.0% swing toward Republicans compared to 2020. The county has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2016.
Electoral Behavior
🏭
Declining Industrial MetroView all
Rust Belt urban centers that voted for Obama but have shifted dramatically toward Republicans. Former manufacturing hubs experiencing economic decline and Democratic erosion.
Volatility
4.5
Elasticity
Inelastic
Trend
-1.0/yr (red)
Quick Stats
2024 ResultR+15.4
2020→2024 SwingR+3.0%
Voting StreakR since 2016
Elections on Record34
Demographics
Population161,791
Median Age
39.1(US: 38.4)
College (BA+)
44.2%(US: 47.9%)
Median Income
$69,796(US: $78k)
White (non-Hisp)
86.8%(US: 57.5%)
Hispanic
2.2%(US: 18.6%)
Black
5.0%(US: 12.3%)
Asian
1.8%(US: 5.7%)
Homeownership
70.1%(US: 64.2%)
Poverty Rate
11.4%(US: 12.4%)
Veterans
6.2%(US: 6.4%)
Presidential Elections
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41.6%(34,759) | 57.0%(47,681) | R+15.4 | -3.0 |
| 2020 | 43.0%(35,661) | 55.5%(45,990) | R+12.5 | -2.7 |
| 2016 | 41.8%(32,397) | 51.5%(39,971) | R+9.8 | -15.2 |
| 2012 | 51.4%(39,453) | 45.9%(35,242) | D+5.5 | -3.5 |
| 2008 | 53.4%(41,856) | 44.4%(34,822) | D+9.0 | +2.3 |
| 2004 | 53.1%(40,675) | 46.4%(35,583) | D+6.6 | +1.6 |
| 2000 | 50.0%(31,446) | 45.0%(28,271) | D+5.0 | -13.0 |
| 1996 | 50.5%(29,441) | 32.5%(18,939) | D+18.0 | +5.4 |
| 1992 | 42.4%(26,325) | 29.7%(18,447) | D+12.7 | +14.1 |
| 1988 | 48.8%(25,607) | 50.2%(26,334) | R+1.4 | +13.7 |
Senate Elections
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45.1%(37,082) | 51.3%(42,163) | R+6.2 | +0.6 |
| 2022 | 46.6%(28,175) | 53.4%(32,274) | R+6.8 | -13.5 |
| 2018 | 53.3%(32,303) | 46.6%(28,231) | D+6.7 | +25.5 |
| 2016 | 37.4%(27,492) | 56.2%(41,313) | R+18.8 | -25.0 |
| 2012 | 50.1%(37,144) | 43.9%(32,531) | D+6.2 | +21.8 |
| 2010 | 38.5%(18,891) | 54.1%(26,528) | R+15.6 | -42.1 |
| 2006 | 63.2%(34,576) | 36.7%(20,075) | D+26.5 | +45.7 |
| 2004 | 40.4%(29,962) | 59.6%(44,185) | R+19.2 | -1.3 |
| 2000 | 38.3%(23,218) | 56.2%(34,078) | R+17.9 | -21.6 |
| 1998 | 51.8%(21,876) | 48.2%(20,338) | D+3.6 | +9.3 |
Governor Elections
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 37.5%(22,665) | 62.3%(37,634) | R+24.8 | -23.3 |
| 2018 | 47.3%(28,679) | 48.7%(29,563) | R+1.5 | +27.7 |
| 2014 | 33.2%(13,545) | 62.4%(25,432) | R+29.1 | -26.8 |
| 2010 | 46.4%(23,161) | 48.8%(24,341) | R+2.4 | -39.3 |
| 2006 | 66.5%(36,553) | 29.5%(16,223) | D+37.0 | +37.4 |
| 2002 | 47.5%(19,708) | 47.9%(19,887) | R+0.4 | -1.8 |
| 1998 | 47.0%(19,487) | 45.6%(18,913) | D+1.4 | +44.8 |
| 1994 | 26.4%(11,301) | 69.8%(29,846) | R+43.4 | -34.0 |
| 1990 | 45.3%(19,586) | 54.7%(23,631) | R+9.4 | -47.3 |
| 1986 | 69.0%(25,178) | 31.0%(11,333) | D+37.9 | +4.6 |
Primary Election History
| Year | Party | Winner | Runner-up | Nominee? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dem | Joe Biden(70.0%) | Bernie Sanders(17.9%) | ✓ |
| 2016 | Dem | Bernie Sanders(50.7%) | Hillary Clinton(48.5%) | ✗ |
| 2016 | GOP | John Kasich(43.2%) | Donald Trump(42.7%) | ✗ |
| 2008 | Dem | Hillary Clinton(59.4%) | Barack Obama(38.5%) | ✗ |
✓ = County picked eventual party nominee