HarrisDemocratic34.2%7,688TrumpRepublican64.2%14,445KennedyIndependent0.6%142
R+30.0- Lead
- 6,757
- Total
- 22,489
- vs nation
- R+28.6
- Turnout
- 68.6%
Akashiccounty
Mecosta County, MI
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 68.6% of 32,985 citizens 18+
BidenDemocratic35.0%7,375TrumpRepublican63.0%13,267JorgensenLibertarian1.4%303
R+28.0- Lead
- 5,892
- Total
- 21,049
- vs nation
- R+32.4
- Turnout
- 60.2%
ClintonDemocratic33.8%5,827TrumpRepublican59.7%10,305JohnsonLibertarian4.0%697
R+25.9- Lead
- 4,478
- Total
- 17,259
- vs nation
- R+28.0
- Turnout
- 50.4%
ObamaDemocratic44.3%7,515RomneyRepublican54.0%9,176Goode,Ust0.5%90
R+9.8- Lead
- 1,661
- Total
- 16,980
- vs nation
- R+13.6
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic48.8%9,101McCainRepublican49.5%9,238OtherAll other candidates1.7%325
R+0.7- Lead
- 137
- Total
- 18,664
- vs nation
- R+8.0
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic44.0%7,730BushRepublican55.2%9,710OtherAll other candidates0.8%141
R+11.3- Lead
- 1,980
- Total
- 17,581
- vs nation
- R+8.8
- Turnout
- —
GoreDemocratic42.7%6,300BushRepublican54.7%8,072NaderGreen2.2%325
R+12.0- Lead
- 1,772
- Total
- 14,754
- vs nation
- R+12.5
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic48.5%6,370DoleRepublican40.3%5,289PerotReform10.5%1,373
D+8.2- Lead
- 1,081
- Total
- 13,124
- vs nation
- R+0.3
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+30.0MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 41,2422024 5-year
- Median household income
- $60,9512024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 89.6%2024 5-year
- Black
- 2.1%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 3.0%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+9.9 in 1964MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+62.6 in 1928MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Montcalm County, MI · twin score 82.7
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
- 68.6%22,626 participants ÷ 32,985 CVAP
- 2020→2022 drop-off
- +5.3 ptsHigh-turnout, durable
- Drop-off versus state
- -9.9 ptsPositive means a larger decline than the statewide pattern
- Mechanical 2026 scenario
- 63.3%–63.6%Recent-cycle and two-cycle persistence scenarios; not a forecast
| Election | Participants | CVAP | Turnout | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 · Presidential | 17,392 | 34,538 | 50.4% | A/A |
| 2018 · Midterm | 15,874 | 34,807 | 45.6% | A/A |
| 2020 · Presidential | 21,164 | 35,159 | 60.2% | A/A |
| 2022 · Midterm | 17,628 | 32,095 | 54.9% | A/A |
| 2024 · Presidential | 22,626 | 32,985 | 68.6% | 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
40 precincts · 22,489 votes
Precinct boundaries and identifiers are cycle-specific. This table does not join rows across years without a validated crosswalk.
| Precinct -Big Rapids Township, Precinct 1Big Rapids Township, Precinct 1 | 1,099 | 1,589 | 41 | 2,729 | 40.3% | 58.2% | R+18.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct -Morton Township, Precinct 1Morton Township, Precinct 1 | 748 | 1,233 | 24 | 2,005 | 37.3% | 61.5% | R+24.2 |
| Precinct -Mecosta Township, Precinct 1Mecosta Township, Precinct 1 | 576 | 1,341 | 17 | 1,934 | 29.8% | 69.3% | R+39.6 |
| Precinct -City of Big Rapids, Precinct 2City of Big Rapids, Precinct 2 | 990 | 586 | 30 | 1,606 | 61.6% | 36.5% | D+25.2 |
| Precinct -Colfax Township, Precinct 1Colfax Township, Precinct 1 | 535 | 1,019 | 22 | 1,576 | 33.9% | 64.7% | R+30.7 |
| Precinct -Aetna Township, Precinct 1Aetna Township, Precinct 1 | 285 | 1,109 | 22 | 1,416 | 20.1% | 78.3% | R+58.2 |
| Precinct -Martiny Township, Precinct 1Martiny Township, Precinct 1 | 397 | 756 | 20 | 1,173 | 33.8% | 64.5% | R+30.6 |
| Precinct -Austin Township, Precinct 1Austin Township, Precinct 1 | 279 | 835 | 8 | 1,122 | 24.9% | 74.4% | R+49.6 |
| Precinct -Fork Township, Precinct 1Fork Township, Precinct 1 | 277 | 790 | 14 | 1,081 | 25.6% | 73.1% | R+47.5 |
| Precinct -City of Big Rapids, Precinct 1City of Big Rapids, Precinct 1 | 536 | 500 | 29 | 1,065 | 50.3% | 46.9% | D+3.4 |
| Precinct -Deerfield Township, Precinct 1Deerfield Township, Precinct 1 | 249 | 803 | 10 | 1,062 | 23.4% | 75.6% | R+52.2 |
| Precinct -City of Big Rapids, Precinct 3City of Big Rapids, Precinct 3 | 403 | 587 | 30 | 1,020 | 39.5% | 57.5% | R+18.0 |
| Precinct -Chippewa Township, Precinct 1Chippewa Township, Precinct 1 | 281 | 655 | 7 | 943 | 29.8% | 69.5% | R+39.7 |
| Precinct -Wheatland Township, Precinct 1Wheatland Township, Precinct 1 | 289 | 598 | 21 | 908 | 31.8% | 65.9% | R+34.0 |
| Precinct -Sheridan Township, Precinct 1Sheridan Township, Precinct 1 | 276 | 558 | 19 | 853 | 32.4% | 65.4% | R+33.1 |
| Precinct -Millbrook Township, Precinct 1Millbrook Township, Precinct 1 | 168 | 539 | 8 | 715 | 23.5% | 75.4% | R+51.9 |
| Precinct -Hinton Township, Precinct 1Hinton Township, Precinct 1 | 165 | 519 | 19 | 703 | 23.5% | 73.8% | R+50.4 |
| Precinct -Grant Township, Precinct 1Grant Township, Precinct 1 | 135 | 428 | 15 | 578 | 23.4% | 74.0% | R+50.7 |
| 1070050000001107-00500-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1070438000001107-04380-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1070830000001107-08300-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1070830000002107-08300-00002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1070830000003107-08300-00003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1070832000001107-08320-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1071560000001107-15600-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1071716000001107-17160-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1072124000001107-21240-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1072968000001107-29680-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1073434000001107-34340-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1073476000001107-34760-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1073854000001107-38540-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1075206000001107-52060-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1075278000001107-52780-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1075402000001107-54020-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1075560000001107-55600-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1075560000002107-55600-00002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1077308000001107-73080-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| 1078656000001107-86560-00001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Precinct -Green Township, Precinct 1Green Township, Precinct 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Precinct -Morton Township, Precinct 2Morton Township, Precinct 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
presidential history
Presidential margin, 1892–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | −12.8% |
| 1896 | −18.3% |
| 1900 | −33.3% |
| 1904 | −55.3% |
| 1908 | −37.3% |
| 1912 | −2.6% |
| 1916 | −22.8% |
| 1920 | −53.0% |
| 1924 | −61.2% |
| 1928 | −62.6% |
| 1932 | −2.8% |
| 1936 | −8.8% |
| 1940 | −37.6% |
| 1944 | −41.9% |
| 1948 | −40.1% |
| 1952 | −54.2% |
| 1956 | −51.2% |
| 1960 | −38.0% |
| 1964 | +9.9% |
| 1968 | −27.5% |
| 1972 | −30.2% |
| 1976 | −21.0% |
| 1980 | −17.4% |
| 1984 | −37.9% |
| 1988 | −26.5% |
| 1992 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | +8.2% |
| 2000 | −12.0% |
| 2004 | −11.3% |
| 2008 | −0.7% |
| 2012 | −9.8% |
| 2016 | −25.9% |
| 2020 | −28.0% |
| 2024 | −30.0% |
DemocraticRepublican
Federal and statewide elections · 2 House · 37 Senate · 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.
| Year | Vote lead | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 32.5%6,930 | 67.5%14,376 | 21,306 |
| 2020 | R | 32.1%6,408 | 67.9%13,527 | 19,935 |
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.
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
Total registered voters, over time
Registered voters
| Year | Total registered |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 27,742 |
| 2018 | 28,496 |
| 2020 | 31,389 |
| 2022 | 31,989 |
| 2024 | 33,340 |
domestic migration
Who moves in and out
Net migration over time, and who arrivals are — where they came from and what those places vote
+399 net domestic migration · 2025
20112025
Net +1,926 over 2011–2025 · gain loss
Arrivals reported $49,695 in average income, against $67,137 for residents who stayed — 26% lower. (IRS SOI, 2022–23)
The places arrivals came from lean R+20.0 on average — 10 points more Democratic-leaning than Mecosta County, MI itself (R+30.0).
Where arrivals came from lean of each source
- Kent County, MI196D+5.4
- Montcalm County, MI116R+39.0
- Newaygo County, MI106R+42.8
- Osceola County, MI105R+47.9
- Isabella County, MI86R+7.5
- Ottawa County, MI32R+20.4
Where departures went households, 2022–23
- Kent County, MI181
- Osceola County, MI129
- Newaygo County, MI90
- Isabella County, MI86
- Montcalm County, MI86
- Ottawa County, MI40
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 | +482 |
| 2012 | −75 |
| 2013 | −376 |
| 2014 | −144 |
| 2015 | −246 |
| 2016 | +44 |
| 2017 | +88 |
| 2018 | +106 |
| 2019 | −4 |
| 2021 | +372 |
| 2022 | +748 |
| 2023 | +321 |
| 2024 | +211 |
| 2025 | +399 |
Mecosta County, anchored by Big Rapids and Ferris State University, blends a small college-town footprint with a predominantly rural, non-Hispanic white electorate that has shifted steadily rightward over the past decade, reaching R+30 in 2024.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 9.9 points in 1964 and a Republican high of 62.6 points in 1928. Between 2020 and 2024 the county moved 2.1 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 30.0 points.
A population of 41,242, a 90% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $60,951 describe the county. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Montcalm County and Shiawassee County.
Political twins — counties
The counties whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Montcalm County
Michigan
82.7twin score
% unaffiliated2008–2012 trajectory% Evangelical≠ Polish ancestry
Shiawassee County
Michigan
81.6twin score
% unaffiliated% Evangelical% White≠ Scottish ancestry
Ionia County
Michigan
80.7twin score
% unaffiliated% Evangelical12-yr trend
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.
Mecosta County, Michigan. Akashic. https://akashic.app/county/26107/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
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Cities & towns in Mecosta County
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Frequently asked questions
How did Mecosta County, Michigan vote in 2024?
In 2024, Mecosta County, Michigan voted Republican by 30.0 points (R+30.0), carried by the Republican candidate. Out of 22,489 votes cast, 7,688 went Democratic and 14,445 went Republican.
When did Mecosta County, Michigan last vote Democratic?
The most recent presidential election in which Mecosta County, Michigan voted Democratic was 1996.
How many people live in Mecosta County, Michigan?
Mecosta County, Michigan has a population of 41,242 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Mecosta County, Michigan?
Median household income in Mecosta County, Michigan is $60,951 — below the national median of $80,734. The Michigan state median is $72,875.
What is the political history of Mecosta County, Michigan?
Akashic tracks 38 presidential elections in Mecosta County, Michigan from 1876 to 2024. Of those, 3 went Democratic and 30 went Republican.