| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 4,967 | 10,162 | 15,419 | |
| 2020 | R | 5,439 | 9,865 | 15,594 | |
| 2016 | R | 4,712 | 8,979 | 14,796 | |
| 2012 | R | 6,773 | 7,615 | 14,693 | |
| 2008 | D | 7,850 | 7,148 | 15,334 | |
| 2004 | R | 6,729 | 8,724 | 15,668 | |
| 2000 | R | 5,764 | 7,609 | 14,140 | |
| 1996 | D | 6,369 | 5,563 | 13,587 | |
| 1992 | D | 5,850 | 5,817 | 14,934 | |
| 1988 | D | 7,523 | 7,032 | 14,662 | |
| 1984 | R | 7,033 | 8,617 | 15,782 | |
| 1980 | R | 7,151 | 9,036 | 17,644 | |
| 1976 | D | 9,078 | 6,552 | 16,034 | |
| 1972 | R | 7,366 | 8,139 | 15,885 | |
| 1968 | D | 8,380 | 6,074 | 15,169 | |
| 1964 | D | 11,052 | 5,039 | 16,111 | |
| 1960 | D | 9,346 | 7,528 | 16,909 | |
| 1956 | D | 7,980 | 6,847 | 14,853 | |
| 1952 | R | 7,244 | 8,326 | 15,683 | |
| 1948 | D | 9,279 | 4,662 | 14,580 | |
| 1944 | D | 8,808 | 4,402 | 13,310 | |
| 1940 | D | 10,652 | 5,200 | 15,985 | |
| 1936 | D | 11,337 | 3,751 | 15,437 | |
| 1932 | D | 8,751 | 3,604 | 13,190 | |
| 1928 | R | 5,357 | 7,215 | 12,866 | |
| 1924 | R | 663 | 5,027 | 11,440 | |
| 1920 | R | 2,111 | 8,197 | 11,800 | |
| 1916 | D | 3,498 | 2,471 | 6,514 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,662 | 735 | 5,747 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,928 | 3,311 | 5,997 | |
| 1904 | R | 696 | 3,549 | 4,949 | |
| 1900 | R | 2,533 | 2,863 | 5,770 | |
| 1896 | D | 5,054 | 2,855 | 8,067 | |
| 1892 | R | 1,376 | 1,510 | 5,892 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Polk County stretches across the flat Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota, a farming-dependent region that has shifted dramatically toward Republican presidential candidates over the past four election cycles, with 2024's R+33.7 margin nearly double what it was a decade ago.
The Republican margin in Polk County reached its widest at fifty-eight points in 1904. The margin in 2024 was thirty-four points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Polk County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $73,107, a 86% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 30,705 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 Iowa County and Marshall County.