Akashic
1892–2024
Akashic
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
presidential margin
2008D+9.82012D+8.32016D+3.12020D+6.12024D+1.6
full record · 1892 → 2024
D+1.6
2024
median income$86,618U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059
median age36.9U.S. 39.1 · IA 38.8
poverty rate9.1%U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%
bachelor’s+ (25+)39.8%U.S. 35.6% · IA 31.8%
non-english12.7%U.S. 22.3% · IA 9.2%
race · ethnicity · ancestry
German25.9%
Irish13.8%
English12.1%
Mexican5.8%
Salvadoran0.7%
Puerto Rican0.5%
African American†3.4%
Sudanese0.6%
Liberian0.5%
Asian Indian0.9%
Burmese0.6%
Vietnamese0.5%
religion
other traditions
Muslim1.6%
Latter-day Saints0.9%
Black Protestant0.9%
Other Christian0.5%
American Community Survey 2024 5-year (income, age, poverty, education, language, race, ancestry) · presidential returns from MIT Election Lab through 2024 · 2020 U.S. Religion Census (ASARB) — congregational adherents, unaffiliated is the unclaimed remainder.

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa

Akashic
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IAHarrisD+1.6
—
2024 presidential margin by county for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, IAA map of the constituent counties of Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, IA, each outlined and filled by its 2024 presidential margin from deep red (Republican) through neutral to deep blue (Democratic), seated within the faint outlines of the surrounding states.Dallas County, IA · R+4.7Guthrie County, IA · R+37.8Jasper County, IA · R+27.5Madison County, IA · R+38.5Polk County, IA · D+10.8Warren County, IA · R+20.6
How it voted
Share of the 2024 vote
Kamala Harris ✓Democratic49.9%194,312
Donald TrumpRepublican48.3%188,111
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.We The People1.8%6,949
D+60
R+60
6 counties, each filled by 2024 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (6 counties) — table
2024 presidential result by county for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, IA — winner and D-vs-R margin.
CountyWinnerMargin
Dallas County, IARepublicanR+4.7
Guthrie County, IARepublicanR+37.8
Jasper County, IARepublicanR+27.5
Madison County, IARepublicanR+38.5
Polk County, IADemocraticD+10.8
Warren County, IARepublicanR+20.6
34 presidential elections
Third column names the leading third-party or independent finisher. Source · MIT Election Lab · ICPSR · VEST (precinct-level 2024).
YearWonDemocraticRepublicanOtherMarginTotal
D
49.9%Harris194,312
48.3%Trump188,111
1.8%Kennedy6,949
+1.6%
389,372
D
52.0%Biden198,559
45.9%Trump175,432
2.1%Jorgensen8,204
+6.1%
382,195
D
47.2%Clinton157,435
44.2%Trump147,193
8.6%Johnson28,600
+3.1%
333,228
D
53.2%Obama174,048
44.9%Romney146,822
1.9%Johnson6,061
+8.3%
326,931
D
54.0%Obama165,040
44.2%McCain135,213
1.8%Nader5,401
+9.8%
305,654
D
50.1%Kerry143,289
49.1%Bush140,496
0.8%Other2,239
+1.0%
286,024
D
50.2%Gore122,082
47.3%Bush115,085
2.6%Nader6,256
+2.9%
243,423
D
53.0%Clinton115,412
39.3%Dole85,434
7.7%Perot16,794
+13.8%
217,640
D
46.2%Clinton106,630
38.0%Bush87,786
15.8%Perot36,474
+8.2%
230,890
D
58.9%Dukakis116,875
40.5%Bush80,254
0.6%Larouche1,143
+18.5%
198,272
D
50.5%Mondale103,755
48.8%Reagan100,297
0.7%Larouche1,396
+1.7%
205,448
R
42.5%Carter85,524
46.1%Reagan92,632
11.4%Anderson22,976
−3.5%
201,132
D
52.5%Carter101,057
45.1%Ford86,776
2.4%McCarthy4,622
+7.4%
192,455
R
43.7%McGovern80,896
54.0%Nixon99,988
2.4%Schmitz4,414
−10.3%
185,298
R
44.7%Humphrey73,217
47.2%Nixon77,380
8.1%Wallace13,330
−2.5%
163,927
D
65.8%Johnson105,976
33.8%Goldwater54,462
0.4%Hass615
+32.0%
161,053
R
45.3%Kennedy77,684
54.7%Nixon93,838
0.1%Byrd100
−9.4%
171,622
R
44.8%Stevenson74,670
55.1%Eisenhower91,917
0.1%Andrews126
−10.3%
166,713
R
42.0%Stevenson69,578
57.2%Eisenhower94,807
0.8%Hallinan1,310
−15.2%
165,695
D
53.6%Truman67,334
43.6%Dewey54,734
2.8%Thurmond3,535
+10.0%
125,603
D
52.3%Roosevelt67,134
47.1%Dewey60,500
0.6%Thomas758
+5.2%
128,392
D
52.4%Roosevelt76,494
47.2%Willkie68,929
0.4%Thomas597
+5.2%
146,020
D
53.7%Roosevelt69,925
44.6%Landon58,121
1.7%Lemke2,266
+9.1%
130,312
R
48.1%Roosevelt52,749
48.3%Hoover52,963
3.5%Thomas3,847
−0.2%
109,559
R
31.1%Smith33,342
68.2%Hoover73,158
0.7%Thomas803
−37.1%
107,303
R
11.9%Davis12,293
61.3%Coolidge63,603
26.8%La Follette27,811
−49.5%
103,707
R
29.1%Cox27,860
68.3%Harding65,293
2.6%Debs2,451
−39.2%
95,604
R
48.2%Wilson23,530
48.5%Hughes23,656
3.3%Benson1,593
−0.3%
48,779
O
33.4%Wilson15,415
26.4%Taft12,174
40.1%Roosevelt18,498
Roosevelt +6.7
46,087
R
37.4%Bryan17,265
58.0%Taft26,804
4.6%Debs2,136
−20.6%
46,205
R
22.1%Parker9,600
69.0%Roosevelt29,971
8.8%Debs3,841
−46.9%
43,412
R
36.0%Bryan16,890
60.8%McKinley28,485
3.2%Woolley1,484
−24.7%
46,859
R
42.8%Bryan19,080
55.8%McKinley24,901
1.4%Palmer638
−13.0%
44,619
R
37.4%Cleveland14,156
53.6%Harrison20,278
9.0%Weaver3,414
−16.2%
37,848
presidential history
Presidential margin, 1892–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
Presidential margin over timeDemocratic-minus-Republican presidential margin from 1892 to 2024. Most recent: +1.6% in 2024.flipped D · 1984+1.6%DR18922024
Presidential margin over time
YearMargin (D minus R)
1892−16.2%
1896−13.0%
1900−24.7%
1904−46.9%
1908−20.6%
1912+7.0%
1916−0.3%
1920−39.2%
1924−49.5%
1928−37.1%
1932−0.2%
1936+9.1%
1940+5.2%
1944+5.2%
1948+10.0%
1952−15.2%
1956−10.3%
1960−9.4%
1964+32.0%
1968−2.5%
1972−10.3%
1976+7.4%
1980−3.5%
1984+1.7%
1988+18.5%
1992+8.2%
1996+13.8%
2000+2.9%
2004+1.0%
2008+9.8%
2012+8.3%
2016+3.1%
2020+6.1%
2024+1.6%
DemocraticRepublican
voter registration
Registered voters
By party of registration, over time
Voter registration in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IARegistered voters by party of registration, 2008–2024. Latest total 506,924 in 2024.126.7K253.5K380.2K506.9K506.9K20082024
DemocraticRepublicanUnaffiliatedOther parties
Voter registration in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
YearTotal registeredDemocraticRepublicanUnaffiliatedOther
2008413,473161,155120,133131,988197
2010392,492148,238122,173121,664417
2012411,356148,248130,658131,825625
2014417,890144,322130,884141,1991,485
2016441,508157,250140,167141,1702,921
2018453,576162,912136,032150,1564,476
2020484,725187,332147,757144,7074,929
2022492,295181,903149,355156,0025,035
2024506,924173,877157,279170,3755,393
Source: Iowa Secretary of State

The Des Moines–West Des Moines metro casts roughly a quarter of Iowa's statewide vote, and its fast-growing suburban collar counties have shifted margins noticeably over successive election cycles, making it a reliable bellwether for statewide outcomes.

Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 32.0 points in 1964 and a Republican high of 49.5 points in 1924. Between 2020 and 2024 the metro moved 4.5 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 1.6 points.

A population of 731,120, a 77% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $86,618 describe the metro. The metro's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Madison, WI and Iowa City, IA.

Political twins — metros

The metros whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.

Madison, WI
91.6twin score
population scalemedian income% Evangelical≠ 2024 margin
Iowa City, IA
90.3twin score
2000–2016 trajectory% Evangelical≠ 2008 margin
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
90.2twin score
2000–2020 trajectory≠ population scale

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.

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 →

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All citations released under CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Akashic Intelligence.
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa. Akashic. https://akashic.app/cbsa/19780/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
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Places within Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

counties6
Dallas CountyGuthrie CountyJasper CountyMadison CountyPolk CountyWarren County

Frequently asked questions

How did Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa vote in 2024?
In 2024, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa voted Democratic by 1.6 points (D+1.6), carried by the Democratic candidate. Out of 389,372 votes cast, 194,312 went Democratic and 188,111 went Republican.
When did Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa last vote Republican?
The most recent presidential election in which Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa voted Republican was 1980.
How many people live in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa?
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa has a population of 731,120 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa?
Median household income in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa is $86,618 — above the national median of $80,734. The Iowa state median is $75,059.
What is the political history of Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa?
Akashic tracks 34 presidential elections in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Iowa from 1892 to 2024. Of those, 17 went Democratic and 16 went Republican.