Kentucky — 1940 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1940 presidential electionKentucky · PresidentRooseveltD+15.1
How it voted
Share of the 1940 vote
| Franklin D. Roosevelt ✓Democratic | 57.4% | 557,322 |
|---|---|---|
| Wendell WillkieRepublican | 42.3% | 410,384 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.3% | 2,457 |
1940presidential margin
D+60R+60
120 counties, each filled by 1940 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Kentucky cast 11 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (120 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County, KY | Republican | R+15.1 |
| Allen County, KY | Republican | R+22.6 |
| Anderson County, KY | Democratic | D+33.7 |
| Ballard County, KY | Democratic | D+61.8 |
| Barren County, KY | Democratic | D+20.4 |
| Bath County, KY | Democratic | D+21.4 |
| Bell County, KY | Democratic | D+8.7 |
| Boone County, KY | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| Bourbon County, KY | Democratic | D+22.8 |
| Boyd County, KY | Democratic | D+14.7 |
| Boyle County, KY | Democratic | D+28.7 |
| Bracken County, KY | Democratic | D+11.6 |
| Breathitt County, KY | Democratic | D+42.5 |
| Breckinridge County, KY | Democratic | D+0.6 |
| Bullitt County, KY | Democratic | D+49.1 |
| Butler County, KY | Republican | R+36.9 |
| Caldwell County, KY | Democratic | D+11.9 |
| Calloway County, KY | Democratic | D+73.1 |
| Campbell County, KY | Republican | R+0.4 |
| Carlisle County, KY | Democratic | D+64.8 |
| Carroll County, KY | Democratic | D+56.6 |
| Carter County, KY | Republican | R+14.1 |
| Casey County, KY | Republican | R+35.0 |
| Christian County, KY | Democratic | D+8.5 |
| Clark County, KY | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| Clay County, KY | Republican | R+45.8 |
| Clinton County, KY | Republican | R+54.6 |
| Crittenden County, KY | Republican | R+17.7 |
| Cumberland County, KY | Republican | R+48.7 |
| Daviess County, KY | Democratic | D+24.7 |
| Edmonson County, KY | Republican | R+32.0 |
| Elliott County, KY | Democratic | D+52.1 |
| Estill County, KY | Republican | R+5.5 |
| Fayette County, KY | Democratic | D+11.7 |
| Fleming County, KY | Democratic | D+2.5 |
| Floyd County, KY | Democratic | D+42.1 |
| Franklin County, KY | Democratic | D+56.5 |
| Fulton County, KY | Democratic | D+63.8 |
| Gallatin County, KY | Democratic | D+49.6 |
| Garrard County, KY | Democratic | D+0.3 |
| Grant County, KY | Democratic | D+28.0 |
| Graves County, KY | Democratic | D+64.2 |
| Grayson County, KY | Republican | R+8.2 |
| Green County, KY | Republican | R+11.2 |
| Greenup County, KY | Democratic | D+7.7 |
| Hancock County, KY | Republican | R+3.1 |
| Hardin County, KY | Democratic | D+33.4 |
| Harlan County, KY | Democratic | D+28.7 |
| Harrison County, KY | Democratic | D+42.3 |
| Hart County, KY | Democratic | D+6.7 |
| Henderson County, KY | Democratic | D+46.4 |
| Henry County, KY | Democratic | D+45.4 |
| Hickman County, KY | Democratic | D+69.7 |
| Hopkins County, KY | Democratic | D+38.2 |
| Jackson County, KY | Republican | R+77.5 |
| Jefferson County, KY | Democratic | D+17.8 |
| Jessamine County, KY | Democratic | D+20.8 |
| Johnson County, KY | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Kenton County, KY | Democratic | D+18.8 |
| Knott County, KY | Democratic | D+70.8 |
| Knox County, KY | Republican | R+20.2 |
| Larue County, KY | Democratic | D+30.5 |
| Laurel County, KY | Republican | R+28.8 |
| Lawrence County, KY | Democratic | D+2.0 |
| Lee County, KY | Republican | R+7.0 |
| Leslie County, KY | Republican | R+68.0 |
| Letcher County, KY | Democratic | D+16.0 |
| Lewis County, KY | Republican | R+28.4 |
| Lincoln County, KY | Democratic | D+8.4 |
| Livingston County, KY | Democratic | D+25.8 |
| Logan County, KY | Democratic | D+49.0 |
| Lyon County, KY | Democratic | D+36.3 |
| Madison County, KY | Democratic | D+5.6 |
| Magoffin County, KY | Democratic | D+2.6 |
| Marion County, KY | Democratic | D+32.7 |
| Marshall County, KY | Democratic | D+52.5 |
| Martin County, KY | Republican | R+46.7 |
| Mason County, KY | Democratic | D+8.4 |
| McCracken County, KY | Democratic | D+52.8 |
| McCreary County, KY | Republican | R+43.4 |
| McLean County, KY | Democratic | D+22.9 |
| Meade County, KY | Democratic | D+35.9 |
| Menifee County, KY | Democratic | D+39.3 |
| Mercer County, KY | Democratic | D+32.2 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | Republican | R+9.4 |
| Monroe County, KY | Republican | R+40.9 |
| Montgomery County, KY | Democratic | D+24.4 |
| Morgan County, KY | Democratic | D+46.7 |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | Republican | R+1.8 |
| Nelson County, KY | Democratic | D+33.0 |
| Nicholas County, KY | Democratic | D+27.4 |
| Ohio County, KY | Republican | R+8.8 |
| Oldham County, KY | Democratic | D+40.0 |
| Owen County, KY | Democratic | D+72.9 |
| Owsley County, KY | Republican | R+63.7 |
| Pendleton County, KY | Democratic | D+3.2 |
| Perry County, KY | Democratic | D+18.7 |
| Pike County, KY | Democratic | D+15.0 |
| Powell County, KY | Democratic | D+12.2 |
| Pulaski County, KY | Republican | R+27.0 |
| Robertson County, KY | Democratic | D+17.8 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | Republican | R+36.3 |
| Rowan County, KY | Democratic | D+8.3 |
| Russell County, KY | Republican | R+42.0 |
| Scott County, KY | Democratic | D+38.4 |
| Shelby County, KY | Democratic | D+44.2 |
| Simpson County, KY | Democratic | D+49.8 |
| Spencer County, KY | Democratic | D+50.5 |
| Taylor County, KY | Republican | R+0.04 |
| Todd County, KY | Democratic | D+39.7 |
| Trigg County, KY | Democratic | D+31.7 |
| Trimble County, KY | Democratic | D+77.4 |
| Union County, KY | Democratic | D+59.3 |
| Warren County, KY | Democratic | D+28.6 |
| Washington County, KY | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| Wayne County, KY | Republican | R+11.5 |
| Webster County, KY | Democratic | D+33.1 |
| Whitley County, KY | Republican | R+22.9 |
| Wolfe County, KY | Democratic | D+36.2 |
| Woodford County, KY | Democratic | D+26.9 |
Kentucky results by county
120 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | Wendell Willkie+963 | 2,71142.4% | 3,67457.4% | 130.2% | 6,398 |
| Allen County | Wendell Willkie+1,196 | 2,03638.5% | 3,23261.1% | 210.4% | 5,289 |
| Anderson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,271 | 2,51566.7% | 1,24433.0% | 100.3% | 3,769 |
| Ballard County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,454 | 3,21280.9% | 75819.1% | 10.0% | 3,971 |
| Barren County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,655 | 4,88860.1% | 3,23339.8% | 110.1% | 8,132 |
| Bath County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+892 | 2,52860.5% | 1,63639.2% | 120.3% | 4,176 |
| Bell County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+948 | 5,91054.2% | 4,96245.5% | 270.2% | 10,899 |
| Boone County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,161 | 2,51864.8% | 1,35734.9% | 130.3% | 3,888 |
| Bourbon County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,581 | 4,25461.4% | 2,67338.6% | 40.1% | 6,931 |
| Boyd County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,546 | 9,86857.2% | 7,32242.4% | 750.4% | 17,265 |
| Boyle County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,824 | 4,08164.3% | 2,25735.5% | 110.2% | 6,349 |
| Bracken County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+410 | 1,96155.7% | 1,55144.0% | 90.3% | 3,521 |
| Breathitt County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,375 | 3,97771.1% | 1,60228.7% | 110.2% | 5,590 |
| Breckinridge County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+38 | 3,29650.0% | 3,25849.4% | 370.6% | 6,591 |
| Bullitt County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,575 | 2,38874.5% | 81325.4% | 60.2% | 3,207 |
| Butler County | Wendell Willkie+1,708 | 1,45531.5% | 3,16368.4% | 60.1% | 4,624 |
| Caldwell County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+612 | 2,85855.7% | 2,24643.8% | 260.5% | 5,130 |
| Calloway County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+4,897 | 5,79386.5% | 89613.4% | 90.1% | 6,698 |
| Campbell County | Wendell Willkie+115 | 14,80149.6% | 14,91650.0% | 1030.3% | 29,820 |
| Carlisle County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,866 | 2,36682.2% | 50017.4% | 120.4% | 2,878 |
| Carroll County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,111 | 2,91578.2% | 80421.6% | 110.3% | 3,730 |
| Carter County | Wendell Willkie+1,117 | 3,40342.8% | 4,52056.9% | 230.3% | 7,946 |
| Casey County | Wendell Willkie+2,012 | 1,86232.4% | 3,87467.3% | 170.3% | 5,753 |
| Christian County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,033 | 6,59954.2% | 5,56645.7% | 160.1% | 12,181 |
| Clark County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,834 | 3,97064.8% | 2,13634.9% | 190.3% | 6,125 |
| Clay County | Wendell Willkie+2,763 | 1,63227.1% | 4,39572.9% | 00.0% | 6,027 |
| Clinton County | Wendell Willkie+1,818 | 75522.7% | 2,57377.3% | 00.0% | 3,328 |
| Crittenden County | Wendell Willkie+790 | 1,83441.0% | 2,62458.7% | 140.3% | 4,472 |
| Cumberland County | Wendell Willkie+1,661 | 87225.6% | 2,53374.3% | 40.1% | 3,409 |
| Daviess County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,711 | 9,34462.2% | 5,63337.5% | 490.3% | 15,026 |
| Edmonson County | Wendell Willkie+1,257 | 1,33233.9% | 2,58965.8% | 130.3% | 3,934 |
| Elliott County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,379 | 2,01376.0% | 63424.0% | 00.0% | 2,647 |
| Estill County | Wendell Willkie+302 | 2,58747.2% | 2,88952.7% | 100.2% | 5,486 |
| Fayette County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,320 | 15,83455.7% | 12,51444.0% | 840.3% | 28,432 |
| Fleming County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+144 | 2,99951.1% | 2,85548.7% | 140.2% | 5,868 |
| Floyd County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+5,389 | 9,10071.0% | 3,71129.0% | 00.0% | 12,811 |
| Franklin County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+5,029 | 6,95678.2% | 1,92721.7% | 140.2% | 8,897 |
| Fulton County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,801 | 3,59281.8% | 79118.0% | 90.2% | 4,392 |
| Gallatin County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+978 | 1,47374.7% | 49525.1% | 40.2% | 1,972 |
| Garrard County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+14 | 2,16250.1% | 2,14849.7% | 80.2% | 4,318 |
| Grant County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,194 | 2,72963.9% | 1,53536.0% | 50.1% | 4,269 |
| Graves County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+7,664 | 9,78682.0% | 2,12217.8% | 270.2% | 11,935 |
| Grayson County | Wendell Willkie+478 | 2,67845.7% | 3,15653.8% | 270.5% | 5,861 |
| Green County | Wendell Willkie+504 | 1,99344.2% | 2,49755.4% | 180.4% | 4,508 |
| Greenup County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+683 | 4,74253.7% | 4,05946.0% | 240.3% | 8,825 |
| Hancock County | Wendell Willkie+86 | 1,33848.4% | 1,42451.5% | 20.1% | 2,764 |
| Hardin County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,367 | 4,71866.5% | 2,35133.2% | 210.3% | 7,090 |
| Harlan County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+4,723 | 10,58264.2% | 5,85935.5% | 420.3% | 16,483 |
| Harrison County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,521 | 4,22871.0% | 1,70728.7% | 190.3% | 5,954 |
| Hart County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+414 | 3,28053.3% | 2,86646.6% | 90.1% | 6,155 |
| Henderson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+4,272 | 6,72773.0% | 2,45526.7% | 290.3% | 9,211 |
| Henry County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,417 | 3,86272.5% | 1,44527.1% | 220.4% | 5,329 |
| Hickman County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,268 | 2,75884.7% | 49015.1% | 70.2% | 3,255 |
| Hopkins County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+4,811 | 8,69569.0% | 3,88430.8% | 300.2% | 12,609 |
| Jackson County | Wendell Willkie+3,257 | 46511.1% | 3,72288.6% | 130.3% | 4,200 |
| Jefferson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+28,658 | 94,71058.7% | 66,05241.0% | 4560.3% | 161,218 |
| Jessamine County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+978 | 2,81560.0% | 1,83739.2% | 400.9% | 4,692 |
| Johnson County | Wendell Willkie+2,000 | 3,04237.6% | 5,04262.3% | 100.1% | 8,094 |
| Kenton County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+6,114 | 19,26159.3% | 13,14740.5% | 740.2% | 32,482 |
| Knott County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,675 | 4,43485.4% | 75914.6% | 00.0% | 5,193 |
| Knox County | Wendell Willkie+1,684 | 3,31939.8% | 5,00360.1% | 80.1% | 8,330 |
| Larue County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,154 | 2,46365.1% | 1,30934.6% | 90.2% | 3,781 |
| Laurel County | Wendell Willkie+2,320 | 2,86035.5% | 5,18064.3% | 200.2% | 8,060 |
| Lawrence County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+123 | 3,17850.8% | 3,05548.9% | 190.3% | 6,252 |
| Lee County | Wendell Willkie+244 | 1,62246.4% | 1,86653.4% | 70.2% | 3,495 |
| Leslie County | Wendell Willkie+2,666 | 62616.0% | 3,29284.0% | 30.1% | 3,921 |
| Letcher County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,694 | 6,12757.9% | 4,43341.9% | 190.2% | 10,579 |
| Lewis County | Wendell Willkie+1,493 | 1,87835.8% | 3,37164.2% | 00.0% | 5,249 |
| Lincoln County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+567 | 3,65753.9% | 3,09045.6% | 360.5% | 6,783 |
| Livingston County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+829 | 2,01362.7% | 1,18436.9% | 160.5% | 3,213 |
| Logan County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+4,363 | 6,63174.4% | 2,26825.5% | 90.1% | 8,908 |
| Lyon County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,058 | 1,97967.8% | 92131.6% | 170.6% | 2,917 |
| Madison County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+695 | 6,48452.5% | 5,78946.9% | 670.5% | 12,340 |
| Magoffin County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+144 | 2,81251.3% | 2,66848.7% | 10.0% | 5,481 |
| Marion County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,719 | 3,48266.1% | 1,76333.5% | 190.4% | 5,264 |
| Marshall County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,449 | 3,54976.1% | 1,10023.6% | 130.3% | 4,662 |
| Martin County | Wendell Willkie+1,449 | 82626.6% | 2,27573.3% | 10.0% | 3,102 |
| Mason County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+682 | 4,38654.0% | 3,70445.6% | 270.3% | 8,117 |
| McCracken County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+8,008 | 11,56276.2% | 3,55423.4% | 520.3% | 15,168 |
| McCreary County | Wendell Willkie+1,924 | 1,24828.2% | 3,17271.6% | 90.2% | 4,429 |
| McLean County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,011 | 2,70961.3% | 1,69838.4% | 100.2% | 4,417 |
| Meade County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,119 | 2,11467.7% | 99531.9% | 120.4% | 3,121 |
| Menifee County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+665 | 1,17669.5% | 51130.2% | 50.3% | 1,692 |
| Mercer County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,761 | 3,60665.9% | 1,84533.7% | 190.3% | 5,470 |
| Metcalfe County | Wendell Willkie+380 | 1,82645.2% | 2,20654.5% | 120.3% | 4,044 |
| Monroe County | Wendell Willkie+1,931 | 1,39029.4% | 3,32170.3% | 110.2% | 4,722 |
| Montgomery County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,084 | 2,75562.1% | 1,67137.6% | 130.3% | 4,439 |
| Morgan County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,639 | 4,14873.3% | 1,50926.7% | 00.0% | 5,657 |
| Muhlenberg County | Wendell Willkie+192 | 5,14049.0% | 5,33250.8% | 280.3% | 10,500 |
| Nelson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,084 | 4,19366.5% | 2,10933.4% | 80.1% | 6,310 |
| Nicholas County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+917 | 2,12463.5% | 1,20736.1% | 140.4% | 3,345 |
| Ohio County | Wendell Willkie+722 | 3,72945.5% | 4,45154.3% | 240.3% | 8,204 |
| Oldham County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,135 | 1,98369.8% | 84829.8% | 100.4% | 2,841 |
| Owen County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,086 | 3,65586.4% | 56913.4% | 70.2% | 4,231 |
| Owsley County | Wendell Willkie+2,081 | 59118.1% | 2,67281.8% | 30.1% | 3,266 |
| Pendleton County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+136 | 2,16551.4% | 2,02948.2% | 140.3% | 4,208 |
| Perry County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,159 | 6,85259.3% | 4,69340.6% | 180.2% | 11,563 |
| Pike County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,175 | 12,16057.5% | 8,98542.5% | 160.1% | 21,161 |
| Powell County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+277 | 1,26655.8% | 98943.6% | 150.7% | 2,270 |
| Pulaski County | Wendell Willkie+3,637 | 4,89636.4% | 8,53363.4% | 390.3% | 13,468 |
| Robertson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+251 | 82958.6% | 57840.9% | 70.5% | 1,414 |
| Rockcastle County | Wendell Willkie+1,884 | 1,65231.8% | 3,53668.1% | 60.1% | 5,194 |
| Rowan County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+350 | 2,29454.1% | 1,94445.8% | 20.0% | 4,240 |
| Russell County | Wendell Willkie+1,819 | 1,25028.8% | 3,06970.8% | 150.3% | 4,334 |
| Scott County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,244 | 4,03969.1% | 1,79530.7% | 150.3% | 5,849 |
| Shelby County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,962 | 4,82372.0% | 1,86127.8% | 180.3% | 6,702 |
| Simpson County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,963 | 2,95074.8% | 98725.0% | 80.2% | 3,945 |
| Spencer County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,161 | 1,72875.1% | 56724.7% | 50.2% | 2,300 |
| Taylor County | Wendell Willkie+2 | 2,79049.8% | 2,79249.8% | 240.4% | 5,606 |
| Todd County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,901 | 3,33769.6% | 1,43630.0% | 190.4% | 4,792 |
| Trigg County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,389 | 2,88365.7% | 1,49434.0% | 110.3% | 4,388 |
| Trimble County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,667 | 1,90988.6% | 24211.2% | 40.2% | 2,155 |
| Union County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,244 | 4,35579.6% | 1,11120.3% | 80.1% | 5,474 |
| Warren County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+3,374 | 7,56964.1% | 4,19535.6% | 360.3% | 11,800 |
| Washington County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+250 | 2,61252.5% | 2,36247.5% | 20.0% | 4,976 |
| Wayne County | Wendell Willkie+658 | 2,51944.2% | 3,17755.7% | 60.1% | 5,702 |
| Webster County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+2,090 | 4,19766.4% | 2,10733.3% | 170.3% | 6,321 |
| Whitley County | Wendell Willkie+2,424 | 4,07838.5% | 6,50261.4% | 160.2% | 10,596 |
| Wolfe County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,173 | 2,20568.1% | 1,03231.9% | 00.0% | 3,237 |
| Woodford County | Franklin D. Roosevelt+1,116 | 2,63063.4% | 1,51436.5% | 70.2% | 4,151 |
Nominees: Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) · Wendell Willkie (R)
Kentucky's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1940 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +11.7% |
| 1896 | −0.1% |
| 1900 | +1.7% |
| 1904 | +2.7% |
| 1908 | +1.7% |
| 1912 | +23.2% |
| 1916 | +5.4% |
| 1920 | +0.4% |
| 1924 | −2.9% |
| 1928 | −18.9% |
| 1932 | +18.9% |
| 1936 | +18.6% |
| 1940 | +15.1% |
| 1944 | +9.2% |
| 1948 | +15.3% |
| 1952 | +0.1% |
| 1956 | −9.1% |
| 1960 | −7.2% |
| 1964 | +28.4% |
| 1968 | −6.1% |
| 1972 | −28.6% |
| 1976 | +7.2% |
| 1980 | −1.5% |
| 1984 | −20.7% |
| 1988 | −11.6% |
| 1992 | +3.2% |
| 1996 | +1.0% |
| 2000 | −15.1% |
| 2004 | −19.9% |
| 2008 | −16.2% |
| 2012 | −22.7% |
| 2016 | −29.8% |
| 2020 | −25.9% |
| 2024 | −30.5% |
Source. Compiled historical county records — 1940 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.