HarrisDemocratic53.7%14,325TrumpRepublican44.5%11,874OtherAll other candidates1.9%501
D+9.2- Lead
- 2,451
- Total
- 26,700
- vs nation
- D+10.7
- Turnout
- —
Akashiccity
Palm Desert, CA
Office (updates table and map)
President margin by year
Place winner margin
Boundary by 2024 margin · Precinct returns · VEST · MIT Election Lab
President results by year
Vote totals, margins, and source status
BidenDemocratic53.0%14,840TrumpRepublican45.4%12,713OtherAll other candidates1.5%421
D+7.6- Lead
- 2,127
- Total
- 27,974
- vs nation
- D+3.2
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic47.0%10,122TrumpRepublican49.0%10,551OtherAll other candidates4.0%860
R+2.0- Lead
- 429
- Total
- 21,533
- vs nation
- R+4.1
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic42.3%8,698RomneyRepublican55.3%11,379OtherAll other candidates2.4%494
R+13.0- Lead
- 2,681
- Total
- 20,571
- vs nation
- R+16.9
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic46.3%9,244McCainRepublican53.3%10,634OtherAll other candidates0.4%87
R+7.0- Lead
- 1,390
- Total
- 19,965
- vs nation
- R+14.2
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic36.3%6,608BushRepublican62.7%11,420OtherAll other candidates1.0%176
R+26.4- Lead
- 4,812
- Total
- 18,204
- vs nation
- R+24.0
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- D+9.2MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 51,9902024 5-year
- Median household income
- $77,5132024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 64.3%2024 5-year
- Black
- 2.1%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 26.0%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+9.2 in 2024MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+26.4 in 2004MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- La Quinta, CA · twin score 94.5
presidential history
Presidential margin, 2004–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 2004 | −26.4% |
| 2008 | −7.0% |
| 2012 | −13.0% |
| 2016 | −2.0% |
| 2020 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | +9.2% |
DemocraticRepublican
6 presidential elections
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Other | Margin | Swing | vs U.S. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 53.7%Harris14,325 | 44.5%Trump11,874 | 1.9% | D+9.2 | D+1.6 | D+10.7 | 26,700 | |
| D | 53.0%Biden14,840 | 45.4%Trump12,713 | 1.5% | D+7.6 | D+9.6 | D+3.2 | 27,974 | |
| R | 47.0%Clinton10,122 | 49.0%Trump10,551 | 4.0% | R+2.0 | D+11.0 | R+4.1 | 21,533 | |
| R | 42.3%Obama8,698 | 55.3%Romney11,379 | 2.4% | R+13.0 | R+6.1 | R+16.9 | 20,571 | |
| R | 46.3%Obama9,244 | 53.3%McCain10,634 | 0.4% | R+7.0 | — | R+14.2 | 19,965 | |
| R | 36.3%Kerry6,608 | 62.7%Bush11,420 | 1.0% | R+26.4 | — | R+24.0 | 18,204 |
Federal and statewide elections · 2 House
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 | D | 55.1%14,439 | 44.9%11,787 | 26,226 |
| 2020 | D | 57.7%15,995 | 42.3%11,731 | 27,726 |
Palm Desert's electorate skews older than California's median, driven by a large seasonal and permanent retirement population. The city has trended more competitive in recent cycles as younger, year-round residents gradually offset its historically Republican-leaning base.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 9.2 points in 2024 and a Republican high of 26.4 points in 2004. Between 2020 and 2024 the city moved 1.6 points toward the Democratic candidate; the 2024 margin was 9.2 points.
A population of 51,990, a 64% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $77,513 describe the city. The city's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of La Quinta and Rancho Mirage.
Political twins — cities
The cities whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
La Quinta
California
94.5twin score
median age12-yr trendcollege share
Rancho Mirage
California
89.9twin score
12-yr trendcollege share2008–2012 trajectory≠ elasticity
Oro Valley
Arizona
89.2twin score
median age12-yr trendpopulation 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.
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.
Palm Desert, California. Akashic. https://akashic.app/city/0655184/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
License: CC BY 4.0
California at the ballot boxAll elections →
Frequently asked questions
How did Palm Desert, California vote in 2024?
In 2024, Palm Desert, California voted Democratic by 9.2 points (D+9.2), carried by the Democratic candidate. Out of 26,700 votes cast, 14,325 went Democratic and 11,874 went Republican.
When did Palm Desert, California last vote Republican?
The most recent presidential election in which Palm Desert, California voted Republican was 2016.
How many people live in Palm Desert, California?
Palm Desert, California has a population of 51,990 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Palm Desert, California?
Median household income in Palm Desert, California is $77,513 — below the national median of $80,734. The California state median is $99,122.
What is the political history of Palm Desert, California?
Akashic tracks 6 presidential elections in Palm Desert, California from 2004 to 2024. Of those, 2 went Democratic and 4 went Republican.