akashic
1876–2024
Durham County, North Carolina
Durham County·North Carolina

Durham County has voted Democratic for as long as anyone can remember.

One of the nation's most lopsided presidential counties outside major metros

18762024·38 elections
Durham County, North Carolina · Alexisrael · Wikimedia Commons
Latest
D+62
in 2024
Archetype
Democratic loyalist
since the recent cycles
Population
332,353
2024 ACS
Most similar
Orange County
NC · similarity 0.99
59 precincts · 180,912 votes cast
Harris · D+62
Margin
Turnout
Harris +50
Trump +50
Real precinct boundaries. Hover for vote totals.
YearWonMarginDemocraticRepublicanTotal
2024D
+61.7%
144,45032,853180,912
2020D
+62.4%
144,68832,459179,914
2016D
+59.5%
121,25028,350156,134
2012D
+52.8%
111,22433,769146,735
2008D
+51.9%
103,45632,353136,897
2004D
+36.4%
74,52434,614109,651
2000R
−28.1%
30,15053,90784,604
1996D
+26.4%
49,18627,82580,910
1992D
+23.9%
47,33127,58182,682
1988D
+8.4%
35,44129,92865,883
1984D
+5.0%
32,24429,18561,584
1980D
+11.9%
24,96919,27647,901
1976D
+8.4%
22,42518,94541,533
1972R
−24.0%
15,56625,57641,667
1968D
+9.0%
16,56312,70542,810
1964D
+20.0%
22,87415,26438,138
1960D
+14.8%
19,29814,32233,620
1956D
+2.3%
13,83513,22627,061
1952D
+25.2%
18,89711,30130,198
1948D
+39.7%
11,5304,53117,613
1944D
+55.1%
12,7633,69016,453
1940D
+71.2%
14,8102,49117,301
1936D
+70.8%
12,8042,18914,993
1932D
+44.8%
7,5592,77010,680
1928R
−32.1%
4,4828,72313,205
1924D
+21.4%
4,8373,0938,151
1920D
+13.4%
4,6463,5508,196
1916D
+14.6%
2,4631,8374,300
1912D
+58.8%
2,1971243,526
1908D
+1.1%
1,8591,8203,688
1904D
+19.4%
1,6031,0802,693
1900D
+7.9%
2,3732,0264,418
1896D
+11.6%
2,4351,9244,411
1892D
+6.4%
1,4901,2643,518
1888
No data
1884
No data
1880
No data
1876
No data
Demographics
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry
Click any group to see the ancestries typically reported within it.
American
100.0%
Polish
0.9%
African American
25.7%
Multiple ancestry combinations reported; no single grouping above 1%.
American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander combined.
Source · American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2024 release. Ancestry is a self-reported, multiple-response item; ancestry percentages do not sum to the parent race percentage.
Language at home
Population aged 5 and older
0.0%
speak English only
Source · ACS 5-year estimates, 2024.
Religious adherents
Adherents per capita by tradition
Baptist
11.9%
Other Christian
10.9%
Catholic & Orthodox
7.3%
Methodist
4.0%
Non-Christian
4.0%
Pentecostal & Holiness
3.8%
Mainline Protestant
3.1%
Source · 2020 US Religion Census. Remaining 55.0% of residents not counted as adherents by any reporting body.

Home to Duke University and a majority-minority population, Durham County recorded a D+61.7 margin in 2024, making it North Carolina's most Democratic county by a wide measure and a reliable counterweight to the state's competitive statewide results.

The Democratic margin in Durham County reached its widest at seventy-one points in 1940. The margin in 2024 was sixty-two points — still decisive.

Durham County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $82,316, a 43% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 332,353 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 Orange County and Travis County.