HarrisDemocratic30.5%5,273TrumpRepublican68.1%11,772KennedyIndependent0.7%114
R+37.6- Lead
- 6,499
- Total
- 17,288
- vs nation
- R+36.1
- Turnout
- 69.3%
Akashiccounty
Clare County, MI
Contests in this Place (85 available)
President34 · 1892–2024 · 3 mapped
▦ precinct · ▥ counties · ▢ no spatial detail
President margin by year
Place winner margin
Boundary by 2024 margin · Precinct returns · VEST · MIT Election Lab
The precinct map shows the 2024 presidential vote; the timeline scrubs the county’s overall result across 1892–2024.
President results by year
2024 turnout 69.3% of 25,088 citizens 18+
BidenDemocratic31.9%5,199TrumpRepublican66.7%10,861JorgensenLibertarian1.0%162
R+34.8- Lead
- 5,662
- Total
- 16,281
- vs nation
- R+39.2
- Turnout
- 66.9%
ClintonDemocratic31.6%4,249TrumpRepublican63.2%8,505JohnsonLibertarian3.2%435
R+31.6- Lead
- 4,256
- Total
- 13,449
- vs nation
- R+33.7
- Turnout
- 55.8%
ObamaDemocratic46.8%6,338RomneyRepublican51.6%6,988Goode,Ust0.6%79
R+4.8- Lead
- 650
- Total
- 13,535
- vs nation
- R+8.7
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic51.5%7,496McCainRepublican46.6%6,793OtherAll other candidates1.9%278
D+4.8- Lead
- 703
- Total
- 14,567
- vs nation
- R+2.4
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic49.1%6,984BushRepublican49.8%7,088OtherAll other candidates1.1%154
R+0.7- Lead
- 104
- Total
- 14,226
- vs nation
- D+1.7
- Turnout
- —
GoreDemocratic49.9%6,287BushRepublican47.1%5,937NaderGreen2.1%262
D+2.8- Lead
- 350
- Total
- 12,607
- vs nation
- D+2.3
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic54.0%6,311DoleRepublican32.0%3,742PerotReform13.1%1,531
D+22.0- Lead
- 2,569
- Total
- 11,683
- vs nation
- D+13.5
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+37.6MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 31,2182024 5-year
- Population density
- 55 / sq mi2024 5-year · TIGER/Line
- Land area
- 564 sq miTIGER/Line
- Median household income
- $49,3842024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 92.8%2024 5-year
- Black
- 0.9%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 2.3%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+22.0 in 1996MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+66.2 in 1928MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Ogemaw County, MI · twin score 92.5
Turnout and midterm durability
Participation measured against the same-year citizen voting-age population. Audited cycles count total general-election participants — ballots or participating voters, not presidential candidate votes. Cycles before 2016 predate that series and are derived from the certified presidential returns instead; they are marked everywhere they appear and are excluded from the figures below.
2004–20248 cycles · 5 audited
- 2024 turnout
- 69.3%17,381 participants ÷ 25,088 CVAP
- 2020→2022 drop-off
- +13.2 ptsVolatile
- Drop-off vs state
- -2.0 ptsPositive means a larger decline than the statewide pattern
- Mechanical 2026
- 56.1%–59.4%Recent-cycle and two-cycle persistence scenarios; not a forecast
Participation by cycle
Presidential Midterm Derived, pre-2016
Select a presidential cycle to show it on the map and results ledger above.
| Cycle | Participants | CVAP | Turnout | Series | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17,381 | 25,088 ± 98 | 69.3% | Audited | A/A | |
| 2022Mid | 13,321 | 24,791 ± 124 | 53.7% | Audited | A/A |
| 16,376 | 24,473 ± 131 | 66.9% | Audited | A/A | |
| 2018Mid | 12,029 | 24,431 ± 143 | 49.2% | Audited | A/A |
| 13,588 | 24,346 ± 126 | 55.8% | Audited | A/A | |
| 13,535 | 24,360 | 55.6% | Derived | — | |
| 14,567 | 23,996 | 60.7% | Derived | — | |
| 14,226 | 23,632 extrapolated | 60.2% | Derived | — |
Sources and methods
Audited cycles (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024) count total general-election participants against the same-year CVAP special tabulation, each cell carrying its own numerator and denominator quality grade. Derived cycles (2004, 2008, 2012) come from the certified presidential returns on this page over the ACS 5-year CVAP series, so they measure presidential votes cast rather than ballots — a floor on participation. Where a derived cycle predates the ACS its denominator is extrapolated rather than read, and says so on its own line below. They are shown for the longer arc and are excluded from the drop-off, excess-drop-off, and 2026 scenario figures above.
- 2024: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 311/228.
- 2022: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 306/183.
- 2020: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 301/2.
- 2018: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 297/138.
- 2016: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 293/111.
- 2012 (derived): Certified presidential returns · ACS 5-year CVAP (B05003); presidential votes cast — a floor on participation, not a ballot count.
- 2008 (derived): Certified presidential returns · ACS 5-year CVAP (B05003); presidential votes cast — a floor on participation, not a ballot count.
- 2004 (derived): Certified presidential returns · extrapolated CVAP denominator; presidential votes cast — a floor on participation, not a ballot count; 2004 predates the ACS, so the denominator is a linear back-extrapolation from the 2008 and 2012 CVAP values, not a read figure.
Interactive election map
One map. Every available contest.
Explore precinct resultsSearch, sort, compare years, or export CSV · 38 precincts
Precinct data
Results by precinct
38 precincts · 17,288 votes
Precinct boundaries and identifiers are cycle-specific. This table does not join rows across years without a validated crosswalk.
| Precinct -Surrey Township, Precinct 1Surrey Township, Precinct 1 | 632 | 1,277 | 30 | 1,939 | 32.6% | 65.9% | R+33.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct -Grant Township, Precinct 1Grant Township, Precinct 1 | 541 | 1,236 | 24 | 1,801 | 30.0% | 68.6% | R+38.6 |
| Precinct -City of Clare, Precinct 1City of Clare, Precinct 1 | 658 | 896 | 33 | 1,587 | 41.5% | 56.5% | R+15.0 |
| Precinct -Hayes Township, Precinct 1Hayes Township, Precinct 1 | 366 | 899 | 17 | 1,282 | 28.5% | 70.1% | R+41.6 |
| Precinct -Hayes Township, Precinct 2Hayes Township, Precinct 2 | 424 | 834 | 18 | 1,276 | 33.2% | 65.4% | R+32.1 |
| Precinct -Garfield Township, Precinct 1Garfield Township, Precinct 1 | 391 | 778 | 13 | 1,182 | 33.1% | 65.8% | R+32.7 |
| Precinct -Lincoln Township, Precinct 1Lincoln Township, Precinct 1 | 348 | 751 | 22 | 1,121 | 31.0% | 67.0% | R+36.0 |
| Precinct -Hamilton Township, Precinct 1Hamilton Township, Precinct 1 | 291 | 776 | 15 | 1,082 | 26.9% | 71.7% | R+44.8 |
| Precinct -City of Harrison, Precinct 1City of Harrison, Precinct 1 | 325 | 598 | 15 | 938 | 34.6% | 63.8% | R+29.1 |
| Precinct -Freeman Township, Precinct 1Freeman Township, Precinct 1 | 251 | 534 | 9 | 794 | 31.6% | 67.3% | R+35.6 |
| Precinct -Greenwood Township, Precinct 1Greenwood Township, Precinct 1 | 182 | 527 | 7 | 716 | 25.4% | 73.6% | R+48.2 |
| Precinct -Frost Township, Precinct 1Frost Township, Precinct 1 | 168 | 503 | 6 | 677 | 24.8% | 74.3% | R+49.5 |
| Precinct -Sheridan Township, Precinct 1Sheridan Township, Precinct 1 | 142 | 441 | 6 | 589 | 24.1% | 74.9% | R+50.8 |
| Precinct -Hatton Township, Precinct 1Hatton Township, Precinct 1 | 128 | 402 | 10 | 540 | 23.7% | 74.4% | R+50.7 |
| Precinct -Franklin Township, Precinct 1Franklin Township, Precinct 1 | 131 | 336 | 4 | 471 | 27.8% | 71.3% | R+43.5 |
| Precinct -Arthur Township, Precinct 1Arthur Township, Precinct 1 | 70 | 323 | 7 | 400 | 17.5% | 80.8% | R+63.2 |
| Precinct -Redding Township, Precinct 1Redding Township, Precinct 1 | 72 | 235 | 5 | 312 | 23.1% | 75.3% | R+52.2 |
| Precinct -Winterfield Township, Precinct 1Winterfield Township, Precinct 1 | 73 | 222 | 1 | 296 | 24.7% | 75.0% | R+50.3 |
| Precinct -Summerfield Township, Precinct 1Summerfield Township, Precinct 1 | 80 | 204 | 1 | 285 | 28.1% | 71.6% | R+43.5 |
| Arthur Township 00001035-03620-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Clare City 00001035-15920-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Franklin Township 00001035-30280-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Freeman Township 00001035-30560-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Frost Township 00001035-30900-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Garfield Township 00001035-31560-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Grant Township 00001035-34220-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Greenwood Township 00001035-35120-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hamilton Township 00001035-36140-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Harrison City 00001035-36800-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hatton Township 00001035-37160-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hayes Township 00001035-37340-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hayes Township 00002035-37340-00002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Lincoln Township 00001035-47620-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Redding Township 00001035-67600-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Sheridan Township 00001035-73000-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Summerfield Township 00001035-77120-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Surrey Township 00001035-77580-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Winterfield Township 00001035-87980-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
presidential history
Party record book
Clare County, MI · the strongest Democratic and Republican presidential performances recorded here, measured three ways.
1892–2024 · 34 presidential cycles
Highest vote share
Largest share of the presidential candidate vote cast here.
Democratic
Lyndon B. Johnson1964
56.3%
2,927 votes · D+12.9
Runner-up · Bill Clinton, 1996 · 54.0%
Republican
Herbert Hoover1928
82.6%
1,920 votes · R+66.2
Runner-up · Calvin Coolidge, 1924 · 77.7%
Most votes
Largest number of votes cast for the party’s presidential nominee here.
Democratic
Barack Obama2008
7,496votes
51.5% of the vote · D+4.8
Runner-up · John Kerry, 2004 · 6,984 votes
Republican
Donald Trump2024
11,772votes
68.1% of the vote · R+37.6
Runner-up · Donald Trump, 2020 · 10,861 votes
Best relative to the U.S.
This Place’s margin against the national margin in the same election — positive when it leaned toward the party more than the country did.
Democratic
Bill Clinton1996
+13.5pts D vs U.S.
Place D+22.0 · U.S. D+8.5
Runner-up · Bill Clinton, 1992 · +6.2 pts
Republican
Wendell Willkie1940
+50.1pts R vs U.S.
Place R+40.2 · U.S. D+9.9
Runner-up · Thomas E. Dewey, 1944 · +49.2 pts
current representation
Current officeholders
RRoger HauckState Senate · 34
RMike HoadleyState House · 99
RTom KunseState House · 100
Seats representing Clare County, MI. A county elects none of these itself — they are the members for the 1 congressional, 1 state senate and 2 state house districts it falls inside, so parts of the county are represented by different members.
U.S. House elections · 2 House
Senate and governor results are in the Office selector at the top of this page.
U.S. House
Each row shows U.S. House votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
| Year | Vote lead | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 28.5%4,685 | 71.5%11,742 | 16,427 |
| 2020 | R | 29.3%4,530 | 70.7%10,937 | 15,467 |
voter registration
Registered voters
Total registered voters, over time
Registered voters
| Year | Total registered |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 23,386 |
| 2018 | 23,118 |
| 2020 | 25,328 |
| 2022 | 26,176 |
| 2024 | 27,108 |
domestic migration
Who moves in and out
Net migration over time, and who arrivals are — where they came from and what those places vote
+301 net domestic migration · 2025
20112025
Net +2,352 over 2011–2025 · gain loss
Arrivals reported $50,339 in average income, against $55,859 for residents who stayed — 10% lower. (IRS SOI, 2022–23)
The places arrivals came from lean R+12.9 on average — 25 points more Democratic-leaning than Clare County, MI itself (R+37.6).
Where arrivals came from lean of each source
- Isabella County, MI136R+7.5
- Midland County, MI59R+15.2
- Gladwin County, MI48R+40.7
- Macomb County, MI38R+13.7
- Genesee County, MI37D+4.2
- Oakland County, MI33D+10.6
Where departures went households, 2022–23
- Isabella County, MI173
- Midland County, MI54
- Gladwin County, MI51
- Oakland County, MI28
- Ingham County, MI25
- Genesee County, MI24
Migration is one input to a place’s political change, not its cause — a shift can also come from residents changing their minds, generational turnover, or turnout. These figures describe the places people moved between; they do not measure how any mover voted.
| Year | Net domestic migration |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +75 |
| 2012 | −111 |
| 2013 | −131 |
| 2014 | +178 |
| 2015 | −18 |
| 2016 | −133 |
| 2017 | +315 |
| 2018 | +243 |
| 2019 | +286 |
| 2021 | +541 |
| 2022 | +416 |
| 2023 | +209 |
| 2024 | +181 |
| 2025 | +301 |
Clare County, anchored by the small city of Clare, has shifted decisively toward Republican presidential candidates over the past two decades. Its largely rural, working-class population gave the GOP nominee a 37-point margin in 2024, among the widest in the Lower Peninsula.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 22.0 points in 1996 and a Republican high of 66.2 points in 1928. Between 2020 and 2024 the county moved 2.8 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 37.6 points.
A population of 31,218, a 93% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $49,384 describe the county. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Ogemaw County and Gladwin County.
Political twins — counties
The counties whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Ogemaw County
Michigan
92.5twin score
12-yr trend2000–2004 trajectorymedian age≠ Scottish ancestry
Gladwin County
Michigan
92.0twin score
12-yr trend2000–2004 trajectorymedian age≠ Scottish ancestry
Iosco County
Michigan
89.8twin score
2000–2008 trajectory% unaffiliated12-yr trend≠ Polish ancestry
Twin score (0–100) = weighted cosine between tier-standardized fingerprints: presidential margins 2000–2024 with 12-yr trend and elasticity, ACS income, age, education, population and race, top reported ancestries, and religious adherence — chips name the closest-shared dimensions and the widest gap. Re-weight the groups in the twins explorer.
Browse places by community — income, education, race & ethnicity, language — all community cuts →
Compare two places, side by side
Twelve curated comparisons line up election history, demographics, and the divergence story for two places at a glance. Browse all comparisons →
Cite this page
All citations released under CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Akashic Intelligence.
Clare County, Michigan. Akashic. https://akashic.app/county/26035/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
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Cities & towns in Clare County
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Frequently asked questions
How did Clare County, Michigan vote in 2024?
In 2024, Clare County, Michigan voted Republican by 37.6 points (R+37.6), carried by the Republican candidate. Out of 17,288 votes cast, 5,273 went Democratic and 11,772 went Republican.
When did Clare County, Michigan last vote Democratic?
The most recent presidential election in which Clare County, Michigan voted Democratic was 2008.
How many people live in Clare County, Michigan?
Clare County, Michigan has a population of 31,218 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Clare County, Michigan?
Median household income in Clare County, Michigan is $49,384 — below the national median of $80,734. The Michigan state median is $72,875.
What is the political history of Clare County, Michigan?
Akashic tracks 38 presidential elections in Clare County, Michigan from 1876 to 2024. Of those, 7 went Democratic and 26 went Republican.