| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 2,838 | 5,379 | 8,435 | |
| 2020 | R | 2,953 | 5,522 | 8,723 | |
| 2016 | R | 2,450 | 5,174 | 8,175 | |
| 2012 | R | 2,786 | 5,219 | 8,155 | |
| 2008 | R | 3,037 | 5,298 | 8,468 | |
| 2004 | R | 2,697 | 6,017 | 8,835 | |
| 2000 | D | 5,188 | 2,212 | 7,534 | |
| 1996 | R | 2,788 | 4,469 | 7,868 | |
| 1992 | R | 2,578 | 4,325 | 8,121 | |
| 1988 | R | 2,853 | 4,545 | 7,442 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,072 | 4,985 | 7,089 | |
| 1980 | R | 1,751 | 4,652 | 7,048 | |
| 1976 | R | 2,506 | 3,997 | 6,536 | |
| 1972 | R | 2,037 | 4,231 | 6,282 | |
| 1968 | R | 1,666 | 3,204 | 5,213 | |
| 1964 | R | 2,606 | 2,732 | 5,338 | |
| 1960 | R | 2,036 | 3,320 | 5,356 | |
| 1956 | R | 1,687 | 2,923 | 4,610 | |
| 1952 | R | 933 | 2,932 | 3,865 | |
| 1948 | R | 1,080 | 1,739 | 2,831 | |
| 1944 | R | 938 | 1,676 | 2,614 | |
| 1940 | R | 1,362 | 1,982 | 3,344 | |
| 1936 | D | 1,662 | 1,547 | 3,312 | |
| 1932 | D | 1,852 | 1,374 | 3,270 | |
| 1928 | R | 1,171 | 1,912 | 3,106 | |
| 1924 | R | 325 | 1,260 | 2,368 | |
| 1920 | R | 433 | 1,313 | 1,922 | |
| 1916 | D | 611 | 536 | 1,195 | |
| 1912 | D | 544 | 0 | 1,077 | |
| 1908 | R | 349 | 795 | 1,193 | |
| 1904 | R | 335 | 929 | 1,287 | |
| 1900 | R | 272 | 537 | 818 | |
| 1896 | R | 327 | 462 | 794 | |
| 1892 | R | 102 | 459 | 730 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Hughes County anchors South Dakota's government sector around Pierre, but the presence of the state capital hasn't shifted its presidential margins — Republicans carried it by nearly 30 points in 2020.
The Republican margin in Hughes County reached its widest at fifty-two points in 1952. The margin in 2024 was thirty points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Hughes County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $81,395, a 81% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 17,664 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 Davie County and Union County.
