HarrisDemocratic68.4%28,306TrumpRepublican29.9%12,370WestIndependent0.4%175
D+38.5- Lead
- 15,936
- Total
- 41,353
- vs nation
- D+40.0
- Turnout
- 56.4%
Akashiccounty
Portsmouth city, VA
Office (updates table and map)
President margin by year
Place winner margin
Boundary by 2024 margin · Precinct returns · VEST · MIT Election Lab
President results by year
2024 turnout 56.4% of 73,620 citizens 18+
BidenDemocratic69.4%30,948TrumpRepublican28.6%12,755JorgensenLibertarian1.6%723
D+40.8- Lead
- 18,193
- Total
- 44,582
- vs nation
- D+36.4
- Turnout
- 63.1%
ClintonDemocratic65.9%28,497TrumpRepublican29.6%12,795JohnsonLibertarian2.5%1,096
D+36.3- Lead
- 15,702
- Total
- 43,261
- vs nation
- D+34.2
- Turnout
- 60.3%
ObamaDemocratic70.8%32,501RomneyRepublican28.0%12,858OtherAll other candidates1.2%563
D+42.8- Lead
- 19,643
- Total
- 45,922
- vs nation
- D+38.9
- Turnout
- —
ObamaDemocratic69.3%32,327McCainRepublican30.0%13,984OtherAll other candidates0.8%354
D+39.3- Lead
- 18,343
- Total
- 46,665
- vs nation
- D+32.0
- Turnout
- —
KerryDemocratic61.0%24,112BushRepublican38.5%15,212OtherAll other candidates0.5%210
D+22.5- Lead
- 8,900
- Total
- 39,534
- vs nation
- D+25.0
- Turnout
- —
GoreDemocratic62.9%22,286BushRepublican35.6%12,628NaderGreen1.0%348
D+27.2- Lead
- 9,658
- Total
- 35,455
- vs nation
- D+26.7
- Turnout
- —
ClintonDemocratic62.6%22,150DoleRepublican30.2%10,686PerotReform6.3%2,238
D+32.4- Lead
- 11,464
- Total
- 35,409
- vs nation
- D+23.9
- Turnout
- —
Key facts
- 2024 presidential margin
- D+38.5MIT Election Lab
- Population
- 97,1902024 5-year
- Median household income
- $60,4912024 5-year
- White (non-Hispanic)
- 35.4%2024 5-year
- Black
- 50.2%2024 5-year
- Hispanic / Latino
- 5.4%2024 5-year
- Peak Democratic margin
- D+76.1 in 1940MIT Election Lab
- Peak Republican margin
- R+20.3 in 1972MIT Election Lab
- Most similar
- Hampton city, VA · twin score 98.8
Midterm durability
Total general-election participants divided by same-year citizen voting-age population. These are total ballots or participating voters—not presidential candidate votes.
- 2024 total turnout
- 56.4%41,545 participants ÷ 73,620 CVAP
- 2020→2022 drop-off
- +26.0 ptsPresidential-dependent
- Drop-off versus state
- +2.2 ptsPositive means a larger decline than the statewide pattern
- Mechanical 2026 scenario
- 30.5%–36.7%Recent-cycle and two-cycle persistence scenarios; not a forecast
| Election | Participants | CVAP | Turnout | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 · Presidential | 43,548 | 72,182 | 60.3% | A/A |
| 2018 · Midterm | 33,505 | 71,412 | 46.9% | A/A |
| 2020 · Presidential | 45,171 | 71,632 | 63.1% | A/A |
| 2022 · Midterm | 27,379 | 73,838 | 37.1% | A/A |
| 2024 · Presidential | 41,545 | 73,620 | 56.4% | A/A |
Sources and methods
- 2016: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 293/111.
- 2018: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 297/138.
- 2020: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 301/2.
- 2022: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 306/183.
- 2024: numerator source 158, denominator source 157; total voters participating; eavs-f1a-v1:observed:native; allocation share 0.0%; series 311/228.
Precinct data
Results by precinct
62 precincts · 41,353 votes
Precinct boundaries and identifiers are cycle-specific. This table does not join rows across years without a validated crosswalk.
| Precinct -036 - CHURCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL036 - CHURCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | 1,804 | 1,234 | 34 | 3,072 | 58.7% | 40.2% | D+18.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct -039 - CHURCHLAND PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL039 - CHURCHLAND PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 2,068 | 645 | 29 | 2,742 | 75.4% | 23.5% | D+51.9 |
| Precinct -037 - CHURCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL037 - CHURCHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | 1,568 | 692 | 32 | 2,292 | 68.4% | 30.2% | D+38.2 |
| Precinct -038 - GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH038 - GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH | 1,826 | 363 | 28 | 2,217 | 82.4% | 16.4% | D+66.0 |
| Precinct -028 - LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL028 - LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1,795 | 84 | 30 | 1,909 | 94.0% | 4.4% | D+89.6 |
| Precinct -031 - WEST PARK CHURCH OF CHRIST031 - WEST PARK CHURCH OF CHRIST | 1,190 | 666 | 36 | 1,892 | 62.9% | 35.2% | D+27.7 |
| Precinct -035 - CHURCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL035 - CHURCHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 887 | 812 | 39 | 1,738 | 51.0% | 46.7% | D+4.3 |
| Precinct -001 - EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH001 - EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH | 1,243 | 401 | 27 | 1,671 | 74.4% | 24.0% | D+50.4 |
| Precinct -017 - VICTORY LIFE FELLOWSHIP017 - VICTORY LIFE FELLOWSHIP | 1,034 | 454 | 24 | 1,512 | 68.4% | 30.0% | D+38.4 |
| Precinct -034 - CHURCHLAND BRANCH LIBRARY034 - CHURCHLAND BRANCH LIBRARY | 754 | 668 | 32 | 1,454 | 51.9% | 45.9% | D+5.9 |
| Precinct -009 - THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH009 - THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH | 1,150 | 252 | 22 | 1,424 | 80.8% | 17.7% | D+63.1 |
| Precinct -020 - NOBLE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH020 - NOBLE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH | 1,054 | 297 | 29 | 1,380 | 76.4% | 21.5% | D+54.9 |
| Precinct -026 - WILLIAM E. WATERS MIDDLE SCHOOL026 - WILLIAM E. WATERS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 1,223 | 91 | 18 | 1,332 | 91.8% | 6.8% | D+85.0 |
| Precinct -023 - WESTHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH023 - WESTHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH | 551 | 734 | 25 | 1,310 | 42.1% | 56.0% | R+14.0 |
| Precinct -022 - ST. MARK DELIVERANCE CENTER022 - ST. MARK DELIVERANCE CENTER | 723 | 550 | 25 | 1,298 | 55.7% | 42.4% | D+13.3 |
| Precinct -030 - THE RESCUE CHURCH030 - THE RESCUE CHURCH | 465 | 793 | 22 | 1,280 | 36.3% | 62.0% | R+25.6 |
| Precinct -027 - CAVALIER MANOR RECREATION CENTER027 - CAVALIER MANOR RECREATION CENTER | 1,122 | 81 | 17 | 1,220 | 92.0% | 6.6% | D+85.3 |
| Precinct -032 - HODGES MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL032 - HODGES MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 564 | 612 | 23 | 1,199 | 47.0% | 51.0% | R+4.0 |
| Precinct -014 - BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL014 - BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1,082 | 89 | 26 | 1,197 | 90.4% | 7.4% | D+83.0 |
| Precinct -016 - CRADOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL016 - CRADOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 834 | 329 | 20 | 1,183 | 70.5% | 27.8% | D+42.7 |
| Precinct -007 - PARK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL007 - PARK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 829 | 218 | 22 | 1,069 | 77.5% | 20.4% | D+57.2 |
| Precinct -024 - THE SENIOR STATION024 - THE SENIOR STATION | 710 | 336 | 17 | 1,063 | 66.8% | 31.6% | D+35.2 |
| Precinct -033 - PINECREST BAPTIST CHURCH033 - PINECREST BAPTIST CHURCH | 350 | 659 | 17 | 1,026 | 34.1% | 64.2% | R+30.1 |
| Precinct -011 - JOSEPH E. PARKER RECREATION CENTER011 - JOSEPH E. PARKER RECREATION CENTER | 907 | 55 | 14 | 976 | 92.9% | 5.6% | D+87.3 |
| Precinct -029 - MANOR HIGH SCHOOL029 - MANOR HIGH SCHOOL | 354 | 601 | 15 | 970 | 36.5% | 62.0% | R+25.5 |
| Precinct -005 - CHARLES A. FISHER MEMORIAL ACADEMY005 - CHARLES A. FISHER MEMORIAL ACADEMY | 771 | 56 | 8 | 835 | 92.3% | 6.7% | D+85.6 |
| Precinct -010 - MOUNT HERMON PRESCHOOL CENTER010 - MOUNT HERMON PRESCHOOL CENTER | 495 | 249 | 16 | 760 | 65.1% | 32.8% | D+32.4 |
| Precinct -019 - VICTORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL019 - VICTORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 419 | 317 | 17 | 753 | 55.6% | 42.1% | D+13.5 |
| Precinct -013 - ST. MARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH013 - ST. MARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH | 534 | 32 | 13 | 579 | 92.2% | 5.5% | D+86.7 |
| Brighton Elementary School51740000014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Cavalier Manor Recreation Center51740000027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Churchland Branch Library51740000034 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Churchland Elementary School51740000035 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Churchland High School51740000036 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Churchland Middle School51740000037 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Churchland Primary And Intermediate School51740000039 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Cradock Middle School51740000016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Emanuel A. M. E. Church51740000001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Grove Baptist Church51740000038 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hampton Roads Community Health Center51740000005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Hodges Manor Elementary School51740000032 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| John F. Kennedy Community Center51740000021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| John Tyler Elementary School51740000025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Joseph E. Parker Recreation Center51740000011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Lakeview Elementary School51740000028 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Noble Street Baptist Church51740000020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Park View Elementary School51740000007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Pinecrest Baptist Church51740000033 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Port Norfolk Recreation Center51740000010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Precinct -021 - JOHN F. KENNEDY COMMUNITY CENTER021 - JOHN F. KENNEDY COMMUNITY CENTER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Precinct -025 - WATERIVEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL025 - WATERIVEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| St. Mark Deliverance Center51740000022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church51740000013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| The Rescue Church51740000030 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| The Senior Station51740000024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Third Baptist Church51740000009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Victory Elementary School51740000019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Victory Life Fellowship51740000017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| West Park Church Of Christ51740000031 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Westhaven Baptist Church51740000023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| William E. Waters Middle School51740000026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
| Woodrow Wilson High School51740000029 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | No votes |
presidential history
Presidential margin, 1892–2024
Democratic minus Republican, by election
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +24.0% |
| 1896 | +27.7% |
| 1900 | +50.5% |
| 1904 | +63.3% |
| 1908 | +47.6% |
| 1912 | +75.7% |
| 1916 | +54.8% |
| 1920 | +49.8% |
| 1924 | +46.9% |
| 1928 | −14.6% |
| 1932 | +28.4% |
| 1936 | +73.1% |
| 1940 | +76.1% |
| 1944 | +67.0% |
| 1948 | +34.6% |
| 1952 | +26.0% |
| 1956 | +2.6% |
| 1960 | +16.7% |
| 1964 | +31.2% |
| 1968 | +16.9% |
| 1972 | −20.3% |
| 1976 | +27.5% |
| 1980 | +20.1% |
| 1984 | +6.6% |
| 1988 | +10.0% |
| 1992 | +20.9% |
| 1996 | +32.4% |
| 2000 | +27.2% |
| 2004 | +22.5% |
| 2008 | +39.3% |
| 2012 | +42.8% |
| 2016 | +36.3% |
| 2020 | +40.8% |
| 2024 | +38.5% |
DemocraticRepublican
Federal and statewide elections · 2 House · 37 Senate · 2 Senate special · 12 governor
U.S. House
Each row shows U.S. House votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
U.S. Senate
Each row shows U.S. Senate votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
U.S. Senate special elections
Each row shows U.S. Senate special votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
Governor
Each row shows Governor votes counted inside this Place. “Vote lead” is the local lead here, not necessarily the winner of the full contest.
voter registration
Registered voters
Total registered voters, over time
Registered voters
| Year | Total registered |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 65,460 |
| 2018 | 63,834 |
| 2020 | 66,363 |
| 2022 | 68,500 |
| 2024 | 70,636 |
domestic migration
Who moves in and out
Net migration over time, and who arrivals are — where they came from and what those places vote
−155 net domestic migration · 2025
20112025
Net −8,402 over 2011–2025 · gain loss
Arrivals reported $43,481 in average income, against $55,809 for residents who stayed — 22% lower. (IRS SOI, 2022–23)
The places arrivals came from lean D+16.4 on average — 22 points more Republican-leaning than Portsmouth city, VA itself (D+38.5).
Where arrivals came from lean of each source
- Chesapeake city, VA837D+3.8
- Norfolk city, VA581D+41.3
- Virginia Beach city, VA459D+2.6
- Suffolk city, VA398D+15.8
- Newport News city, VA162D+28.7
- Hampton city, VA147D+39.8
Where departures went households, 2022–23
- Chesapeake city, VA798
- Suffolk city, VA512
- Norfolk city, VA505
- Virginia Beach city, VA424
- Newport News city, VA141
- Hampton city, VA140
Migration is one input to a place’s political change, not its cause — a shift can also come from residents changing their minds, generational turnover, or turnout. These figures describe the places people moved between; they do not measure how any mover voted.
| Year | Net domestic migration |
|---|---|
| 2011 | −325 |
| 2012 | −96 |
| 2013 | −1,056 |
| 2014 | −945 |
| 2015 | −191 |
| 2016 | −1,808 |
| 2017 | −840 |
| 2018 | −449 |
| 2019 | −796 |
| 2021 | −333 |
| 2022 | −759 |
| 2023 | −277 |
| 2024 | −372 |
| 2025 | −155 |
Portsmouth's electorate, shaped by a majority-Black population and a significant military and shipyard workforce, has delivered double-digit Democratic margins in every recent presidential cycle, with the 2024 gap widening past 38 points.
Across the recorded series it reached a Democratic high of 76.1 points in 1940 and a Republican high of 20.3 points in 1972. Between 2020 and 2024 the county moved 2.3 points toward the Republican candidate; the 2024 margin was 38.5 points.
A population of 97,190, a 35% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $60,491 describe the county. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Hampton city and Clayton County.
Political twins — counties
The counties whose fingerprint — 2000–2024 trajectory, demographics, ancestry, religion — sits closest to this one, and why.
Hampton city
Virginia
98.8twin score
2012–2024 trajectory
Clayton County
Georgia
98.5twin score
2000–2024 trajectory≠ 2016 margin
Richmond County
Georgia
98.1twin score
2012–2024 trajectory
Twin score (0–100) = weighted cosine between tier-standardized fingerprints: presidential margins 2000–2024 with 12-yr trend and elasticity, ACS income, age, education, population and race, top reported ancestries, and religious adherence — chips name the closest-shared dimensions and the widest gap. Re-weight the groups in the twins explorer.
Browse places by community — income, education, race & ethnicity, language — all community cuts →
Compare two places, side by side
Twelve curated comparisons line up election history, demographics, and the divergence story for two places at a glance. Browse all comparisons →
Cite this page
All citations released under CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Akashic Intelligence.
Portsmouth city, Virginia. Akashic. https://akashic.app/county/51740/. Accessed May 20, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.
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Cities & towns in Portsmouth city
Virginia at the ballot boxAll elections →
Frequently asked questions
How did Portsmouth city, Virginia vote in 2024?
In 2024, Portsmouth city, Virginia voted Democratic by 38.5 points (D+38.5), carried by the Democratic candidate. Out of 41,353 votes cast, 28,306 went Democratic and 12,370 went Republican.
When did Portsmouth city, Virginia last vote Republican?
The most recent presidential election in which Portsmouth city, Virginia voted Republican was 1972.
How many people live in Portsmouth city, Virginia?
Portsmouth city, Virginia has a population of 97,190 according to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the US Census Bureau.
What is the median household income in Portsmouth city, Virginia?
Median household income in Portsmouth city, Virginia is $60,491 — below the national median of $80,734. The Virginia state median is $93,170.
What is the political history of Portsmouth city, Virginia?
Akashic tracks 38 presidential elections in Portsmouth city, Virginia from 1876 to 2024. Of those, 32 went Democratic and 2 went Republican.