HarrisDemocratic68.5%28,308TrumpRepublican29.9%12,369OtherAll other candidates1.6%660
D+38.6- Lead
- 15,939
- Total
- 41,337
- vs nation
- D+40.0
- Turnout
- —
Akashiccity
Portsmouth, VA
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
BidenDemocratic69.4%30,948TrumpRepublican28.6%12,755OtherAll other candidates2.0%879
D+40.8- Lead
- 18,193
- Total
- 44,582
- vs nation
- D+36.4
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic65.9%28,497TrumpRepublican29.6%12,795OtherAll other candidates4.6%1,969
D+36.3- Lead
- 15,702
- Total
- 43,261
- vs nation
- D+34.2
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic70.9%32,472RomneyRepublican27.9%12,779OtherAll other candidates1.2%562
D+43.0- Lead
- 19,693
- Total
- 45,813
- vs nation
- D+39.1
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic69.2%32,327McCainRepublican29.9%13,984OtherAll other candidates0.9%398
D+39.3- Lead
- 18,343
- Total
- 46,709
- vs nation
- D+32.0
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic61.0%24,112BushRepublican38.5%15,212OtherAll other candidates0.5%210
D+22.5- Lead
- 8,900
- Total
- 39,534
- vs nation
- D+25.0
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- D+38.6MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 97,1902024 5-year
- Median household income
- $60,4912024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 35.9%2024 5-year
- Black
- 51.2%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 5.1%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+43.0 in 2012MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Hampton, VA · twin score 98.8
presidential history
Presidential margin, 2004–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 2004 | +22.5% |
| 2008 | +39.3% |
| 2012 | +43.0% |
| 2016 | +36.3% |
| 2020 | +40.8% |
| 2024 | +38.6% |
DemocraticRepublican
6 presidential elections
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Other | Margin | Swing | vs U.S. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 68.5%Harris28,308 | 29.9%Trump12,369 | 1.6% | D+38.6 | — | D+40.0 | 41,337 | |
| D | 69.4%Biden30,948 | 28.6%Trump12,755 | 2.0% | D+40.8 | — | D+36.4 | 44,582 | |
| D | 65.9%Clinton28,497 | 29.6%Trump12,795 | 4.6% | D+36.3 | R+6.7 | D+34.2 | 43,261 | |
| D | 70.9%Obama32,472 | 27.9%Romney12,779 | 1.2% | D+43.0 | D+3.7 | D+39.1 | 45,813 | |
| D | 69.2%Obama32,327 | 29.9%McCain13,984 | 0.9% | D+39.3 | — | D+32.0 | 46,709 | |
| D | 61.0%Kerry24,112 | 38.5%Bush15,212 | 0.5% | D+22.5 | — | D+25.0 | 39,534 |
Federal and statewide elections · 1 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 | 72.4%29,137 | 27.6%11,111 | 40,248 |
U.S. Senate
| Year | Won | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | D | 71.1%26,553 | 28.9%10,770 | 37,323 |
Portsmouth sits across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, sharing its naval and shipyard economy. Its heavily African American electorate has delivered some of the most lopsided Democratic margins in Hampton Roads for over two decades.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 43.0 points in 2012. Between 2020 and 2024 the city moved 2.2 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 38.6 points.
A population of 97,190, a 36% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $60,491 describe the city. The city's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Hampton and Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance).
Political twins — cities
The cities whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Hampton
Virginia
98.8twin score
2008–2024 trajectorypopulation scale
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance)
Georgia
97.4twin score
2016–2024 trajectorypopulation scale
Jackson
Mississippi
96.4twin score
population scale2008–2024 trajectory≠ African American 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.
Portsmouth, Virginia. Akashic. https://akashic.app/city/5164000/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
License: CC BY 4.0
Virginia at the ballot boxAll elections →
Frequently asked questions
How did Portsmouth, Virginia vote in 2024?
In 2024, Portsmouth, Virginia voted Democratic by 38.6 points (D+38.6), carried by the Democratic candidate. Out of 41,337 votes cast, 28,308 went Democratic and 12,369 went Republican.
How many people live in Portsmouth, Virginia?
Portsmouth, Virginia has a population of 97,190 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Portsmouth, Virginia?
Median household income in Portsmouth, Virginia is $60,491 — below the national median of $80,734. The Virginia state median is $93,170.
What is the political history of Portsmouth, Virginia?
Akashic tracks 6 presidential elections in Portsmouth, Virginia from 2004 to 2024. Of those, 6 went Democratic and 0 went Republican.