| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 228 | 1,167 | 1,401 | |
| 2020 | R | 322 | 1,222 | 1,559 | |
| 2016 | R | 313 | 1,075 | 1,416 | |
| 2012 | R | 369 | 1,110 | 1,491 | |
| 2008 | R | 381 | 1,189 | 1,578 | |
| 2004 | R | 280 | 1,173 | 1,453 | |
| 2000 | R | 468 | 1,063 | 1,540 | |
| 1996 | R | 508 | 688 | 1,302 | |
| 1992 | R | 524 | 687 | 1,598 | |
| 1988 | R | 571 | 996 | 1,570 | |
| 1984 | R | 465 | 1,251 | 1,721 | |
| 1980 | R | 485 | 1,000 | 1,511 | |
| 1976 | R | 768 | 831 | 1,609 | |
| 1972 | R | 245 | 705 | 957 | |
| 1968 | R | 351 | 412 | 910 | |
| 1964 | D | 694 | 357 | 1,051 | |
| 1960 | D | 474 | 437 | 911 | |
| 1956 | R | 290 | 546 | 838 | |
| 1952 | R | 351 | 581 | 932 | |
| 1948 | D | 433 | 131 | 622 | |
| 1944 | D | 449 | 118 | 636 | |
| 1940 | D | 571 | 84 | 657 | |
| 1936 | D | 398 | 64 | 462 | |
| 1932 | D | 372 | 113 | 485 | |
| 1928 | R | 92 | 290 | 382 | |
| 1924 | D | 143 | 124 | 269 | |
| 1920 | D | 190 | 104 | 305 | |
| 1916 | D | 130 | 13 | 143 | |
| 1912 | D | 62 | 12 | 92 | |
| 1908 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1904 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1896 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1892 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Sutton County's sparse ranching economy and population of roughly 4,000 have produced Republican presidential margins above 60 points in multiple consecutive cycles, making it a reliable anchor of deep-red West Texas.
The unraveling was not abrupt. The Democratic margin in Sutton County peaked at eighty-two points in 1916; it narrowed steadily over the late twentieth century. The 1968 election delivered the county to the Republican party for the first time in many years, by a margin of seven points. By 2024, the margin had widened further.
The economic and demographic context is severe. Sutton County's median household income of $78,906 is among the lowest of any county in the United States; 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Winkler County and Graham County.