| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 1,265 | 3,140 | 4,479 | |
| 2020 | R | 1,466 | 3,144 | 4,670 | |
| 2016 | R | 1,465 | 2,713 | 4,509 | |
| 2012 | D | 2,189 | 2,124 | 4,430 | |
| 2008 | D | 2,218 | 2,118 | 4,443 | |
| 2004 | D | 2,323 | 2,200 | 4,566 | |
| 2000 | D | 2,081 | 1,984 | 4,176 | |
| 1996 | D | 2,053 | 1,401 | 3,923 | |
| 1992 | D | 1,921 | 1,417 | 4,260 | |
| 1988 | D | 2,262 | 1,631 | 3,934 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,030 | 2,262 | 4,321 | |
| 1980 | R | 1,614 | 2,417 | 4,404 | |
| 1976 | D | 2,333 | 1,737 | 4,149 | |
| 1972 | R | 1,590 | 2,214 | 3,901 | |
| 1968 | R | 1,655 | 2,059 | 4,000 | |
| 1964 | D | 2,659 | 1,546 | 4,212 | |
| 1960 | R | 1,906 | 2,631 | 4,550 | |
| 1956 | R | 1,929 | 2,462 | 4,397 | |
| 1952 | R | 1,653 | 3,215 | 4,894 | |
| 1948 | R | 2,101 | 2,195 | 4,379 | |
| 1944 | R | 1,946 | 2,603 | 4,584 | |
| 1940 | R | 2,513 | 2,962 | 5,510 | |
| 1936 | D | 2,613 | 2,571 | 5,263 | |
| 1932 | D | 2,342 | 1,608 | 4,030 | |
| 1928 | R | 1,642 | 2,780 | 4,490 | |
| 1924 | R | 743 | 2,554 | 4,867 | |
| 1920 | R | 1,257 | 3,150 | 4,450 | |
| 1916 | R | 1,175 | 1,507 | 2,735 | |
| 1912 | D | 910 | 882 | 2,489 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,134 | 1,624 | 2,800 | |
| 1904 | R | 896 | 1,799 | 2,786 | |
| 1900 | R | 1,322 | 1,800 | 3,175 | |
| 1896 | R | 1,517 | 1,646 | 3,194 | |
| 1892 | R | 961 | 1,455 | 2,686 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Clarke County's small-town and agricultural character has pushed its presidential margins steadily rightward over the past decade, hitting R+41.9 in 2024 — a spread that reflects broader rural Iowa's sharp partisan realignment.
The Republican margin in Clarke County reached its widest at forty-three points in 1920. The margin in 2024 was forty-two points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Clarke County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $71,641, a 81% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 9,662 together describe a community whose political habits are deeply settled. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Greene County and Benton County.
