HarrisDemocratic48.5%5,367TrumpRepublican49.6%5,497OtherAll other candidates1.9%208
R+1.2- Lead
- 130
- Total
- 11,072
- vs nation
- D+0.3
- Turnout
- —
Akashiccity
Sanford, ME
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
BidenDemocratic49.5%5,450TrumpRepublican47.2%5,194OtherAll other candidates3.3%364
D+2.3- Lead
- 256
- Total
- 11,008
- vs nation
- R+2.1
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic44.6%4,485TrumpRepublican47.3%4,753OtherAll other candidates8.1%818
R+2.7- Lead
- 268
- Total
- 10,056
- vs nation
- R+4.8
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic58.8%5,621RomneyRepublican38.8%3,702OtherAll other candidates2.4%230
D+20.1- Lead
- 1,919
- Total
- 9,553
- vs nation
- D+16.2
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic60.8%5,953McCainRepublican36.8%3,607OtherAll other candidates2.3%229
D+24.0- Lead
- 2,346
- Total
- 9,789
- vs nation
- D+16.7
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic48.9%4,668BushRepublican48.9%4,668OtherAll other candidates2.3%216
Tie- Lead
- 0
- Total
- 9,552
- vs nation
- D+2.5
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+1.2MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 22,2472024 5-year
- Median household income
- $72,5242024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 88.1%2024 5-year
- Black
- 1.7%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 2.5%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+24.0 in 2008MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+2.7 in 2016MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Claremont, NH · twin score 94.7
presidential history
Presidential margin, 2004–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 2004 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | +24.0% |
| 2012 | +20.1% |
| 2016 | −2.7% |
| 2020 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | −1.2% |
DemocraticRepublican
6 presidential elections
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Other | Margin | Swing | vs U.S. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 48.5%Harris5,367 | 49.6%Trump5,497 | 1.9% | R+1.2 | R+3.5 | D+0.3 | 11,072 | |
| D | 49.5%Biden5,450 | 47.2%Trump5,194 | 3.3% | D+2.3 | D+5.0 | R+2.1 | 11,008 | |
| R | 44.6%Clinton4,485 | 47.3%Trump4,753 | 8.1% | R+2.7 | R+22.8 | R+4.8 | 10,056 | |
| D | 58.8%Obama5,621 | 38.8%Romney3,702 | 2.4% | D+20.1 | R+3.9 | D+16.2 | 9,553 | |
| D | 60.8%Obama5,953 | 36.8%McCain3,607 | 2.3% | D+24.0 | — | D+16.7 | 9,789 | |
| O | 48.9%Kerry4,668 | 48.9%Bush4,668 | 2.3% | Tied | — | D+2.5 | 9,552 |
Sanford's legacy as a textile manufacturing center left a blue-collar electorate that swings reliably between parties in statewide races, making it one of the more closely watched mid-size cities in southern Maine.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 24.0 points in 2008 and a Republican high of 2.7 points in 2016. Between 2020 and 2024 the city moved 3.5 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 1.2 points.
A population of 22,247, a 88% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $72,524 describe the city. The city's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Claremont and Franklin.
Political twins — cities
The cities whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Claremont
New Hampshire
94.7twin score
elasticity12-yr trendFrench ancestry≠ Irish ancestry
Franklin
New Hampshire
92.0twin score
elasticity12-yr trendFrench ancestry
Rochester
New Hampshire
91.7twin score
French ancestryelasticity% Latino
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.
Sanford, Maine. Akashic. https://akashic.app/city/2365725/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
License: CC BY 4.0
Maine at the ballot boxAll elections →
Frequently asked questions
How did Sanford, Maine vote in 2024?
In 2024, Sanford, Maine voted Republican by 1.2 points (R+1.2), carried by the Republican candidate. Out of 11,072 votes cast, 5,367 went Democratic and 5,497 went Republican.
When did Sanford, Maine last vote Democratic?
The most recent presidential election in which Sanford, Maine voted Democratic was 2020.
How many people live in Sanford, Maine?
Sanford, Maine has a population of 22,247 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Sanford, Maine?
Median household income in Sanford, Maine is $72,524 — below the national median of $80,734. The Maine state median is $74,733.
What is the political history of Sanford, Maine?
Akashic tracks 6 presidential elections in Sanford, Maine from 2004 to 2024. Of those, 3 went Democratic and 2 went Republican.