HarrisDemocratic43.2%9,955TrumpRepublican54.9%12,627KennedyWe The People1.0%229
R+11.6- Lead
- 2,672
- Total
- 23,020
- vs nation
- R+10.1
- Turnout
- 69.8%
Akashiccounty
Cerro Gordo County, IA
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
2024 turnout 69.8% of 33,167 citizens 18+
BidenDemocratic46.0%10,941TrumpRepublican52.3%12,442JorgensenLibertarian0.8%196
R+6.3- Lead
- 1,501
- Total
- 23,801
- vs nation
- R+10.8
- Turnout
- 71.4%
ClintonDemocratic42.6%9,862TrumpRepublican50.2%11,621JohnsonLibertarian3.7%851
R+7.6- Lead
- 1,759
- Total
- 23,137
- vs nation
- R+9.7
- Turnout
- 68.3%
ObamaDemocratic55.9%13,316RomneyRepublican42.5%10,128JohnsonLibertarian0.6%147
D+13.4- Lead
- 3,188
- Total
- 23,824
- vs nation
- D+9.5
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic59.7%14,405McCainRepublican38.8%9,375OtherAll other candidates1.5%360
D+20.8- Lead
- 5,030
- Total
- 24,140
- vs nation
- D+13.6
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic54.5%13,372BushRepublican44.7%10,960OtherAll other candidates0.8%184
D+9.8- Lead
- 2,412
- Total
- 24,516
- vs nation
- D+12.3
- Turnout
- —
GoreDemocratic55.0%12,185BushRepublican42.4%9,397NaderGreen1.8%408
D+12.6- Lead
- 2,788
- Total
- 22,162
- vs nation
- D+12.1
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic56.3%11,943DoleRepublican35.0%7,427PerotReform8.0%1,689
D+21.3- Lead
- 4,516
- Total
- 21,227
- vs nation
- D+12.8
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+11.6MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 42,6322024 5-year
- Median household income
- $68,1892024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 88.2%2024 5-year
- Black
- 1.9%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 5.6%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+25.0 in 1964MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+54.7 in 1920MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Vernon County, WI · twin score 93.7
Midterm durability
Total general-election participants divided by same-year citizen voting-age population. These are total ballots or participating voters—not presidential candidate votes.
- 2024 total turnout
- 69.8%23,152 participants ÷ 33,167 CVAP
- 2020→2022 drop-off
- +20.4 ptsPresidential-dependent
- Drop-off versus state
- -0.5 ptsPositive means a larger decline than the statewide pattern
- Mechanical 2026 scenario
- 49.4%–53.9%Recent-cycle and two-cycle persistence scenarios; not a forecast
| Election | Participants | CVAP | Turnout | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 · Presidential | 23,137 | 33,877 | 68.3% | A/A |
| 2018 · Midterm | 19,179 | 33,652 | 57.0% | A/A |
| 2020 · Presidential | 23,927 | 33,490 | 71.4% | A/A |
| 2022 · Midterm | 17,188 | 33,699 | 51.0% | A/A |
| 2024 · Presidential | 23,152 | 33,167 | 69.8% | A/A |
Sources and methods
- 2016: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 293/111.
- 2018: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 297/138.
- 2020: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 301/2.
- 2022: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 306/183.
- 2024: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 311/228.
Precinct data
Results by precinct
23 precincts · 22,942 votes
Precinct boundaries and identifiers are cycle-specific. This table does not join rows across years without a validated crosswalk.
| Precinct -Mason City W3 P3Mason City W3 P3 | 803 | 857 | 36 | 1,696 | 47.3% | 50.5% | R+3.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct -Clear Lake Ward 3Clear Lake Ward 3 | 623 | 933 | 17 | 1,573 | 39.6% | 59.3% | R+19.7 |
| Precinct -Mason City W2 P2Mason City W2 P2 | 837 | 703 | 21 | 1,561 | 53.6% | 45.0% | D+8.6 |
| Precinct -Clear Lake Ward 1Clear Lake Ward 1 | 586 | 955 | 15 | 1,556 | 37.7% | 61.4% | R+23.7 |
| Precinct -Clear Lake Ward 2Clear Lake Ward 2 | 527 | 878 | 27 | 1,432 | 36.8% | 61.3% | R+24.5 |
| Precinct -Mason City W1 P3Mason City W1 P3 | 646 | 713 | 20 | 1,379 | 46.8% | 51.7% | R+4.9 |
| Precinct -Clear Lake/Grant/Union Twps PctClear Lake/Grant/Union Twps Pct | 421 | 912 | 12 | 1,345 | 31.3% | 67.8% | R+36.5 |
| Precinct -Mason City W4 P3Mason City W4 P3 | 641 | 675 | 23 | 1,339 | 47.9% | 50.4% | R+2.5 |
| Precinct -Mason City W1 P2Mason City W1 P2 | 553 | 597 | 20 | 1,170 | 47.3% | 51.0% | R+3.8 |
| Precinct -Mason City W3 P1Mason City W3 P1 | 557 | 531 | 23 | 1,111 | 50.1% | 47.8% | D+2.3 |
| Precinct -Mason City W4 P2Mason City W4 P2 | 494 | 554 | 16 | 1,064 | 46.4% | 52.1% | R+5.6 |
| Precinct -Mason City W3 P2Mason City W3 P2 | 473 | 469 | 21 | 963 | 49.1% | 48.7% | D+0.4 |
| Precinct -Mason City W2 P3Mason City W2 P3 | 426 | 451 | 15 | 892 | 47.8% | 50.6% | R+2.8 |
| Precinct -Mason City W4 P1Mason City W4 P1 | 448 | 411 | 14 | 873 | 51.3% | 47.1% | D+4.2 |
| Precinct -Geneseo/Dougherty Twps PctGeneseo/Dougherty Twps Pct | 268 | 545 | 11 | 824 | 32.5% | 66.1% | R+33.6 |
| Precinct -Mason S/Bath/Portland/Owen Twps PctMason S/Bath/Portland/Owen Twps Pct | 237 | 521 | 8 | 766 | 30.9% | 68.0% | R+37.1 |
| Precinct -Mason City W1 P1Mason City W1 P1 | 378 | 308 | 15 | 701 | 53.9% | 43.9% | D+10.0 |
| Precinct -Mason City W2 P1Mason City W2 P1 | 375 | 298 | 18 | 691 | 54.3% | 43.1% | D+11.1 |
| Precinct -Falls Twp PctFalls Twp Pct | 214 | 356 | 9 | 579 | 37.0% | 61.5% | R+24.5 |
| Precinct -Grimes Twp PctGrimes Twp Pct | 120 | 288 | 4 | 412 | 29.1% | 69.9% | R+40.8 |
| Precinct -Mt Vernon/Pleasant Valley Twps PctMt Vernon/Pleasant Valley Twps Pct | 116 | 240 | 7 | 363 | 32.0% | 66.1% | R+34.2 |
| Precinct -Lime Creek/Mason N Twps PctLime Creek/Mason N Twps Pct | 125 | 213 | 5 | 343 | 36.4% | 62.1% | R+25.7 |
| Precinct -Lake/Lincoln Twps PctLake/Lincoln Twps Pct | 87 | 219 | 3 | 309 | 28.2% | 70.9% | R+42.7 |
presidential history
Presidential margin, 1892–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | −26.2% |
| 1896 | −35.9% |
| 1900 | −42.1% |
| 1904 | −54.5% |
| 1908 | −31.5% |
| 1912 | +7.8% |
| 1916 | −21.1% |
| 1920 | −54.7% |
| 1924 | −49.4% |
| 1928 | −32.1% |
| 1932 | +8.8% |
| 1936 | +11.8% |
| 1940 | +5.4% |
| 1944 | +4.5% |
| 1948 | +9.6% |
| 1952 | −22.5% |
| 1956 | −14.1% |
| 1960 | −12.2% |
| 1964 | +25.0% |
| 1968 | −10.4% |
| 1972 | −11.0% |
| 1976 | +2.6% |
| 1980 | −8.0% |
| 1984 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | +15.6% |
| 1992 | +13.0% |
| 1996 | +21.3% |
| 2000 | +12.6% |
| 2004 | +9.8% |
| 2008 | +20.8% |
| 2012 | +13.4% |
| 2016 | −7.6% |
| 2020 | −6.3% |
| 2024 | −11.6% |
DemocraticRepublican
Federal and statewide elections · 3 House · 37 Senate · 2 Senate special · 12 governor
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.
U.S. Senate
Each row shows U.S. Senate votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
U.S. Senate special elections
Each row shows U.S. Senate special votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
Governor
Each row shows Governor votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
voter registration
Registered voters
By party of registration, over time
Party registration · 2024R+5.3
Presidential vote · 2024R+11.6
Registration leans Republican; the presidential vote runs 6.3 points more Democratic.
DemocraticRepublicanUnaffiliatedOther parties
| Year | Total registered | Democratic | Republican | Unaffiliated | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 32,588 | 10,965 | 8,410 | 13,206 | 7 |
| 2010 | 32,252 | 10,362 | 8,547 | 13,328 | 15 |
| 2012 | 32,838 | 10,377 | 8,594 | 13,850 | 17 |
| 2014 | 32,246 | 9,859 | 8,485 | 13,861 | 41 |
| 2016 | 32,040 | 9,629 | 8,807 | 13,524 | 80 |
| 2018 | 31,482 | 9,147 | 8,483 | 13,728 | 124 |
| 2020 | 31,781 | 9,840 | 9,047 | 12,685 | 209 |
| 2022 | 31,473 | 9,295 | 9,559 | 12,412 | 207 |
| 2024 | 31,512 | 8,628 | 10,302 | 12,316 | 266 |
domestic migration
Who moves in and out
Net migration over time, and who arrivals are — where they came from and what those places vote
+154 net domestic migration · 2025
20112025
Net −1,644 over 2011–2025 · gain loss
Arrivals reported $63,018 in average income, against $84,971 for residents who stayed — 26% lower. (IRS SOI, 2022–23)
The places arrivals came from lean R+25.1 on average — 14 points more Republican-leaning than Cerro Gordo County, IA itself (R+11.6).
Where arrivals came from lean of each source
- Floyd County, IA88R+25.6
- Worth County, IA73R+28.2
- Hancock County, IA55R+47.4
- Polk County, IA47D+10.8
- Franklin County, IA38R+41.6
- Winnebago County, IA34R+30.6
Where departures went households, 2022–23
- Polk County, IA103
- Worth County, IA69
- Floyd County, IA67
- Winnebago County, IA41
- Hancock County, IA36
- Black Hawk County, IA31
Migration is one input to a place’s political change, not its cause — a shift can also come from residents changing their minds, generational turnover, or turnout. These figures describe the places people moved between; they do not measure how any mover voted.
| Year | Net domestic migration |
|---|---|
| 2011 | −159 |
| 2012 | −281 |
| 2013 | −191 |
| 2014 | −332 |
| 2015 | −202 |
| 2016 | +177 |
| 2017 | −46 |
| 2018 | −325 |
| 2019 | −153 |
| 2021 | −109 |
| 2022 | −229 |
| 2023 | +48 |
| 2024 | +4 |
| 2025 | +154 |
Cerro Gordo, anchored by Mason City, was a Democratic-leaning industrial county as recently as the 2000s but posted an R+11.6 margin in 2024, reflecting a broader working-class realignment across Iowa's small manufacturing cities.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 25.0 points in 1964 and a Republican high of 54.7 points in 1920. Between 2020 and 2024 the county moved 5.3 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 11.6 points.
A population of 42,632, a 88% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $68,189 describe the county. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Vernon County and Iowa County.
Political twins — counties
The counties whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Vernon County
Wisconsin
93.7twin score
2000–2012 trajectory≠ Norwegian ancestry
Iowa County
Wisconsin
92.6twin score
2000–2012 trajectory≠ English ancestry
Sauk County
Wisconsin
90.6twin score
2000–2012 trajectory≠ Polish 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 →
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All citations released under CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Akashic Intelligence.
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Akashic. https://akashic.app/county/19033/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
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Cities & towns in Cerro Gordo County
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Frequently asked questions
How did Cerro Gordo County, Iowa vote in 2024?
In 2024, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa voted Republican by 11.6 points (R+11.6), carried by the Republican candidate. Out of 23,020 votes cast, 9,955 went Democratic and 12,627 went Republican.
When did Cerro Gordo County, Iowa last vote Democratic?
The most recent presidential election in which Cerro Gordo County, Iowa voted Democratic was 2012.
How many people live in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has a population of 42,632 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?
Median household income in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa is $68,189 — below the national median of $80,734. The Iowa state median is $75,059.
What is the political history of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?
Akashic tracks 38 presidential elections in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa from 1876 to 2024. Of those, 15 went Democratic and 18 went Republican.