| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 2,676 | 5,229 | 7,976 | |
| 2020 | R | 2,713 | 4,849 | 7,631 | |
| 2016 | R | 2,448 | 4,258 | 6,870 | |
| 2012 | R | 2,647 | 4,051 | 6,762 | |
| 2008 | R | 2,838 | 3,823 | 6,712 | |
| 2004 | R | 2,335 | 3,679 | 6,038 | |
| 2000 | D | 2,999 | 2,188 | 5,242 | |
| 1996 | R | 2,204 | 2,270 | 4,790 | |
| 1992 | D | 2,229 | 1,929 | 4,975 | |
| 1988 | R | 2,188 | 2,297 | 4,506 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,152 | 2,554 | 4,717 | |
| 1980 | D | 2,224 | 1,504 | 3,803 | |
| 1976 | D | 2,113 | 1,068 | 3,209 | |
| 1972 | R | 919 | 1,847 | 2,794 | |
| 1968 | D | 1,280 | 745 | 3,472 | |
| 1964 | D | 1,864 | 1,036 | 2,900 | |
| 1960 | D | 1,697 | 1,061 | 2,758 | |
| 1956 | D | 1,376 | 954 | 2,330 | |
| 1952 | D | 1,428 | 903 | 2,331 | |
| 1948 | D | 1,370 | 685 | 2,197 | |
| 1944 | D | 1,295 | 719 | 2,014 | |
| 1940 | D | 1,448 | 730 | 2,178 | |
| 1936 | D | 1,627 | 860 | 2,487 | |
| 1932 | D | 1,526 | 665 | 2,266 | |
| 1928 | R | 878 | 1,099 | 1,977 | |
| 1924 | D | 798 | 459 | 1,257 | |
| 1920 | D | 1,286 | 1,008 | 2,294 | |
| 1916 | D | 710 | 527 | 1,255 | |
| 1912 | D | 694 | 74 | 1,117 | |
| 1908 | D | 628 | 501 | 1,155 | |
| 1904 | D | 574 | 438 | 1,012 | |
| 1900 | R | 597 | 729 | 1,326 | |
| 1896 | D | 861 | 642 | 1,504 | |
| 1892 | D | 509 | 471 | 1,329 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Pamlico sits almost entirely surrounded by the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound, giving it one of North Carolina's highest shares of water-dependent livelihoods. That rural, maritime character has aligned with a consistent Republican lean exceeding 30 points in recent presidential cycles.
The Democratic margin in Pamlico County peaked at fifty-six points in 1912. By 2004 the county had flipped, voting Republican for the first time in many years. The 2024 margin was thirty-two points, the most Republican-leaning result in the county's modern history.
The economic context is the key. Pamlico County's median household income of $59,717 sits well below state and national norms, and 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The shift here is part of a broader realignment of working-class places across the country. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Davison County and Pender County.