HarrisDemocratic59.5%31,117TrumpRepublican38.1%19,900OtherAll other candidates2.4%1,270
D+21.5- Lead
- 11,217
- Total
- 52,287
- vs nation
- D+22.9
- Turnout
- —
Akashiccity
Rockford, IL
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
BidenDemocratic60.8%33,986TrumpRepublican37.2%20,775OtherAll other candidates2.0%1,097
D+23.7- Lead
- 13,211
- Total
- 55,858
- vs nation
- D+19.2
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic56.9%30,913TrumpRepublican36.2%19,680OtherAll other candidates7.0%3,781
D+20.7- Lead
- 11,233
- Total
- 54,374
- vs nation
- D+18.6
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic59.8%33,821RomneyRepublican38.1%21,571OtherAll other candidates2.1%1,198
D+21.6- Lead
- 12,250
- Total
- 56,590
- vs nation
- D+17.8
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic61.9%37,242McCainRepublican36.2%21,752OtherAll other candidates1.9%1,154
D+25.8- Lead
- 15,490
- Total
- 60,148
- vs nation
- D+18.5
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic56.0%31,722BushRepublican43.1%24,450OtherAll other candidates0.9%501
D+12.8- Lead
- 7,272
- Total
- 56,673
- vs nation
- D+15.3
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- D+21.5MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 147,5212024 5-year
- Median household income
- $54,7522024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 50.1%2024 5-year
- Black
- 21.1%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 20.6%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+25.8 in 2008MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Milwaukee, WI · twin score 90.5
presidential history
Presidential margin, 2004–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 2004 | +12.8% |
| 2008 | +25.8% |
| 2012 | +21.6% |
| 2016 | +20.7% |
| 2020 | +23.7% |
| 2024 | +21.5% |
DemocraticRepublican
6 presidential elections
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Other | Margin | Swing | vs U.S. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 59.5%Harris31,117 | 38.1%Trump19,900 | 2.4% | D+21.5 | R+2.2 | D+22.9 | 52,287 | |
| D | 60.8%Biden33,986 | 37.2%Trump20,775 | 2.0% | D+23.7 | D+3.0 | D+19.2 | 55,858 | |
| D | 56.9%Clinton30,913 | 36.2%Trump19,680 | 7.0% | D+20.7 | R+1.0 | D+18.6 | 54,374 | |
| D | 59.8%Obama33,821 | 38.1%Romney21,571 | 2.1% | D+21.6 | R+4.1 | D+17.8 | 56,590 | |
| D | 61.9%Obama37,242 | 36.2%McCain21,752 | 1.9% | D+25.8 | — | D+18.5 | 60,148 | |
| D | 56.0%Kerry31,722 | 43.1%Bush24,450 | 0.9% | D+12.8 | — | D+15.3 | 56,673 |
Federal and statewide elections · 2 House · 1 Senate
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%26,615 | 44.9%21,672 | 48,287 |
| 2020 | D | 57.3%31,043 | 42.7%23,172 | 54,215 |
U.S. Senate
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | D | 61.0%32,170 | 39.0%20,590 | 52,760 |
Rockford's electoral behavior tracks closely with its industrial economy — once a global fastener and machine-tool hub, the city's declining manufacturing base has reshuffled its working-class vote in ways that make it a reliable bellwether for northwest Illinois.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 25.8 points in 2008. Between 2020 and 2024 the city moved 2.2 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 21.5 points.
A population of 147,521, a 50% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $54,752 describe the city. The city's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Milwaukee and Moline.
Political twins — cities
The cities whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
90.5twin score
median incomeScottish ancestry2008 margin≠ 2012 margin
Moline
Illinois
89.5twin score
college share2008–2024 trajectory≠ population scale
Kansas City
Missouri
89.2twin score
2008–2024 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.
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.
Rockford, Illinois. Akashic. https://akashic.app/city/1765000/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
License: CC BY 4.0
Illinois at the ballot boxAll elections →
Frequently asked questions
How did Rockford, Illinois vote in 2024?
In 2024, Rockford, Illinois voted Democratic by 21.5 points (D+21.5), carried by the Democratic candidate. Out of 52,287 votes cast, 31,117 went Democratic and 19,900 went Republican.
How many people live in Rockford, Illinois?
Rockford, Illinois has a population of 147,521 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Rockford, Illinois?
Median household income in Rockford, Illinois is $54,752 — below the national median of $80,734. The Illinois state median is $83,390.
What is the political history of Rockford, Illinois?
Akashic tracks 6 presidential elections in Rockford, Illinois from 2004 to 2024. Of those, 6 went Democratic and 0 went Republican.