| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | D | 2,442 | 1,573 | 4,098 | |
| 2020 | D | 2,365 | 1,577 | 4,020 | |
| 2016 | D | 1,697 | 1,351 | 3,310 | |
| 2012 | D | 1,646 | 1,481 | 3,202 | |
| 2008 | D | 1,636 | 1,367 | 3,060 | |
| 2004 | R | 1,278 | 1,402 | 2,721 | |
| 2000 | R | 705 | 1,279 | 2,233 | |
| 1996 | R | 569 | 984 | 1,794 | |
| 1992 | R | 461 | 653 | 1,583 | |
| 1988 | R | 439 | 814 | 1,274 | |
| 1984 | R | 366 | 914 | 1,290 | |
| 1980 | R | 237 | 813 | 1,201 | |
| 1976 | R | 333 | 645 | 1,032 | |
| 1972 | R | 186 | 669 | 897 | |
| 1968 | R | 250 | 401 | 771 | |
| 1964 | D | 456 | 358 | 820 | |
| 1960 | R | 432 | 508 | 940 | |
| 1956 | R | 322 | 634 | 962 | |
| 1952 | R | 413 | 697 | 1,127 | |
| 1948 | R | 461 | 574 | 1,045 | |
| 1944 | R | 303 | 503 | 807 | |
| 1940 | D | 606 | 589 | 1,199 | |
| 1936 | D | 677 | 428 | 1,116 | |
| 1932 | D | 706 | 398 | 1,152 | |
| 1928 | R | 479 | 535 | 1,039 | |
| 1924 | R | 256 | 484 | 1,093 | |
| 1920 | R | 402 | 735 | 1,195 | |
| 1916 | D | 961 | 399 | 1,421 | |
| 1912 | D | 710 | 273 | 1,466 | |
| 1908 | D | 1,085 | 539 | 1,689 | |
| 1904 | D | 1,080 | 916 | 2,080 | |
| 1900 | D | 1,656 | 610 | 2,303 | |
| 1896 | D | 2,192 | 38 | 2,235 | |
| 1892 | R | 0 | 324 | 1,777 | |
| 1888 | R | 733 | 961 | 1,738 | |
| 1884 | R | 399 | 499 | 898 | |
| 1880 | R | 418 | 479 | 903 | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Despite its rural alpine setting—home to fewer than 4,000 residents and anchored by the old mining town of Ouray—this San Juan Mountains county has consistently returned Democratic presidential margins well above the national average.
The 2008 election was the turning point, when the Democratic candidate carried the county by nine points. The 2024 margin was twenty-one points, in line with the county's new direction.
The demographics suggest why. A population of 5,087, a 90% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $91,020 situate the county in the broader realignment patterns of recent cycles. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Nevada County and Harrisonburg city.
