| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 774 | 3,550 | 4,418 | |
| 2020 | R | 877 | 3,453 | 4,419 | |
| 2016 | R | 704 | 2,852 | 3,801 | |
| 2012 | R | 1,032 | 2,541 | 3,696 | |
| 2008 | R | 1,211 | 2,569 | 3,906 | |
| 2004 | R | 1,117 | 2,839 | 4,034 | |
| 2000 | R | 841 | 2,885 | 3,896 | |
| 1996 | R | 1,507 | 1,658 | 3,883 | |
| 1992 | D | 1,433 | 1,152 | 3,732 | |
| 1988 | D | 1,861 | 1,659 | 3,617 | |
| 1984 | R | 1,608 | 2,176 | 3,848 | |
| 1980 | R | 1,699 | 2,178 | 4,314 | |
| 1976 | D | 1,752 | 1,469 | 3,338 | |
| 1972 | R | 1,412 | 1,590 | 3,138 | |
| 1968 | D | 1,838 | 1,287 | 3,468 | |
| 1964 | D | 2,446 | 767 | 3,213 | |
| 1960 | D | 2,407 | 1,193 | 3,600 | |
| 1956 | D | 2,024 | 1,508 | 3,532 | |
| 1952 | D | 1,826 | 1,494 | 3,327 | |
| 1948 | D | 1,571 | 820 | 2,549 | |
| 1944 | D | 1,744 | 865 | 2,626 | |
| 1940 | D | 2,284 | 1,128 | 3,429 | |
| 1936 | D | 1,959 | 812 | 2,926 | |
| 1932 | D | 1,699 | 822 | 2,553 | |
| 1928 | R | 852 | 1,195 | 2,074 | |
| 1924 | R | 322 | 946 | 1,993 | |
| 1920 | R | 482 | 947 | 1,430 | |
| 1916 | R | 678 | 839 | 1,771 | |
| 1912 | D | 549 | 373 | 1,573 | |
| 1908 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1904 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1896 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1892 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Clearwater County's timber-economy roots and sparse, rural population have made it one of Idaho's most consistently one-sided presidential counties, with the 2024 margin exceeding 60 points.
The unraveling was not abrupt. The Democratic margin in Clearwater County peaked at fifty-two points in 1964; it narrowed steadily over the late twentieth century. The 1996 election delivered the county to the Republican party for the first time in many years, by a margin of four points. By 2024, the margin had widened further.
The economic and demographic context is severe. Clearwater County's median household income of $60,000 is among the lowest of any county in the United States; 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Lewis County and Benewah County.