Elections / 2008 · President · KY
Kentucky — 2008 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate2008 presidential electionKentucky · PresidentMcCainR+16.2
How it voted
Share of the 2008 vote
| John McCain ✓Republican | 57.4% | 1,048,462 |
|---|---|---|
| Barack ObamaDemocratic | 41.2% | 751,985 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 1.4% | 26,061 |
2008presidential margin
D+60R+60
120 counties, each filled by 2008 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Kentucky cast 8 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (120 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County, KY | Republican | R+52.7 |
| Allen County, KY | Republican | R+43.8 |
| Anderson County, KY | Republican | R+32.4 |
| Ballard County, KY | Republican | R+27.3 |
| Barren County, KY | Republican | R+33.9 |
| Bath County, KY | Republican | R+0.5 |
| Bell County, KY | Republican | R+40.6 |
| Boone County, KY | Republican | R+34.5 |
| Bourbon County, KY | Republican | R+17.2 |
| Boyd County, KY | Republican | R+12.3 |
| Boyle County, KY | Republican | R+23.2 |
| Bracken County, KY | Republican | R+24.3 |
| Breathitt County, KY | Republican | R+9.3 |
| Breckinridge County, KY | Republican | R+25.5 |
| Bullitt County, KY | Republican | R+32.3 |
| Butler County, KY | Republican | R+40.3 |
| Caldwell County, KY | Republican | R+26.7 |
| Calloway County, KY | Republican | R+18.3 |
| Campbell County, KY | Republican | R+20.9 |
| Carlisle County, KY | Republican | R+31.3 |
| Carroll County, KY | Republican | R+8.2 |
| Carter County, KY | Republican | R+9.5 |
| Casey County, KY | Republican | R+58.1 |
| Christian County, KY | Republican | R+21.2 |
| Clark County, KY | Republican | R+25.1 |
| Clay County, KY | Republican | R+56.5 |
| Clinton County, KY | Republican | R+62.4 |
| Crittenden County, KY | Republican | R+34.4 |
| Cumberland County, KY | Republican | R+48.6 |
| Daviess County, KY | Republican | R+10.1 |
| Edmonson County, KY | Republican | R+36.2 |
| Elliott County, KY | Democratic | D+25.2 |
| Estill County, KY | Republican | R+40.1 |
| Fayette County, KY | Democratic | D+4.8 |
| Fleming County, KY | Republican | R+19.8 |
| Floyd County, KY | Republican | R+1.3 |
| Franklin County, KY | Republican | R+0.6 |
| Fulton County, KY | Republican | R+10.3 |
| Gallatin County, KY | Republican | R+17.6 |
| Garrard County, KY | Republican | R+43.1 |
| Grant County, KY | Republican | R+27.4 |
| Graves County, KY | Republican | R+26.1 |
| Grayson County, KY | Republican | R+34.8 |
| Green County, KY | Republican | R+50.8 |
| Greenup County, KY | Republican | R+14.1 |
| Hancock County, KY | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| Hardin County, KY | Republican | R+20.6 |
| Harlan County, KY | Republican | R+46.2 |
| Harrison County, KY | Republican | R+21.1 |
| Hart County, KY | Republican | R+30.9 |
| Henderson County, KY | Democratic | D+2.6 |
| Henry County, KY | Republican | R+19.6 |
| Hickman County, KY | Republican | R+26.4 |
| Hopkins County, KY | Republican | R+24.9 |
| Jackson County, KY | Republican | R+70.1 |
| Jefferson County, KY | Democratic | D+12.0 |
| Jessamine County, KY | Republican | R+37.0 |
| Johnson County, KY | Republican | R+41.6 |
| Kenton County, KY | Republican | R+20.9 |
| Knott County, KY | Republican | R+7.9 |
| Knox County, KY | Republican | R+44.6 |
| Larue County, KY | Republican | R+36.3 |
| Laurel County, KY | Republican | R+58.0 |
| Lawrence County, KY | Republican | R+26.0 |
| Lee County, KY | Republican | R+44.2 |
| Leslie County, KY | Republican | R+63.9 |
| Letcher County, KY | Republican | R+33.3 |
| Lewis County, KY | Republican | R+35.5 |
| Lincoln County, KY | Republican | R+38.5 |
| Livingston County, KY | Republican | R+27.6 |
| Logan County, KY | Republican | R+28.6 |
| Lyon County, KY | Republican | R+16.7 |
| Madison County, KY | Republican | R+22.4 |
| Magoffin County, KY | Republican | R+7.1 |
| Marion County, KY | Republican | R+3.2 |
| Marshall County, KY | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Martin County, KY | Republican | R+54.6 |
| Mason County, KY | Republican | R+17.0 |
| McCracken County, KY | Republican | R+25.2 |
| McCreary County, KY | Republican | R+52.2 |
| McLean County, KY | Republican | R+9.6 |
| Meade County, KY | Republican | R+21.0 |
| Menifee County, KY | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| Mercer County, KY | Republican | R+36.0 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | Republican | R+33.0 |
| Monroe County, KY | Republican | R+52.9 |
| Montgomery County, KY | Republican | R+16.6 |
| Morgan County, KY | Republican | R+11.8 |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | Republican | R+1.8 |
| Nelson County, KY | Republican | R+13.7 |
| Nicholas County, KY | Republican | R+12.2 |
| Ohio County, KY | Republican | R+16.4 |
| Oldham County, KY | Republican | R+30.7 |
| Owen County, KY | Republican | R+26.8 |
| Owsley County, KY | Republican | R+53.3 |
| Pendleton County, KY | Republican | R+28.4 |
| Perry County, KY | Republican | R+32.0 |
| Pike County, KY | Republican | R+13.8 |
| Powell County, KY | Republican | R+15.5 |
| Pulaski County, KY | Republican | R+55.4 |
| Robertson County, KY | Republican | R+8.1 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | Republican | R+53.3 |
| Rowan County, KY | Democratic | D+2.0 |
| Russell County, KY | Republican | R+56.3 |
| Scott County, KY | Republican | R+20.6 |
| Shelby County, KY | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Simpson County, KY | Republican | R+22.7 |
| Spencer County, KY | Republican | R+35.5 |
| Taylor County, KY | Republican | R+40.5 |
| Todd County, KY | Republican | R+36.3 |
| Trigg County, KY | Republican | R+29.8 |
| Trimble County, KY | Republican | R+19.8 |
| Union County, KY | Republican | R+5.2 |
| Warren County, KY | Republican | R+18.9 |
| Washington County, KY | Republican | R+26.8 |
| Wayne County, KY | Republican | R+37.1 |
| Webster County, KY | Republican | R+11.7 |
| Whitley County, KY | Republican | R+47.7 |
| Wolfe County, KY | Democratic | D+2.9 |
| Woodford County, KY | Republican | R+17.1 |
complete certified result
Kentucky candidate results
Top three shown first · expand for every reported candidate and write-in category
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab — U.S. President 1976–2024 state candidate returns
Nominees: Barack Obama (D) · John McCain (R)
Kentucky's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 2008 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% |
County-by-county results — 120 counties
| County | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | R | 1,668 | 5,512 | 7,298 | |
| Allen County | R | 2,024 | 5,258 | 7,390 | |
| Anderson County | R | 3,462 | 6,885 | 10,552 | |
| Ballard County | R | 1,427 | 2,537 | 4,060 | |
| Barren County | R | 5,434 | 11,133 | 16,807 | |
| Bath County | R | 2,210 | 2,234 | 4,543 | |
| Bell County | R | 2,782 | 6,681 | 9,598 | |
| Boone County | R | 16,292 | 33,812 | 50,774 | |
| Bourbon County | R | 3,385 | 4,820 | 8,330 | |
| Boyd County | R | 8,886 | 11,430 | 20,670 | |
| Boyle County | R | 4,769 | 7,701 | 12,635 | |
| Bracken County | R | 1,241 | 2,066 | 3,399 | |
| Breathitt County | R | 2,205 | 2,671 | 5,030 | |
| Breckinridge County | R | 3,110 | 5,281 | 8,522 | |
| Bullitt County | R | 10,177 | 20,102 | 30,726 | |
| Butler County | R | 1,555 | 3,696 | 5,307 | |
| Caldwell County | R | 2,212 | 3,866 | 6,199 | |
| Calloway County | R | 6,165 | 8,991 | 15,404 | |
| Campbell County | R | 15,622 | 24,046 | 40,297 | |
| Carlisle County | R | 879 | 1,699 | 2,617 | |
| Carroll County | R | 1,716 | 2,032 | 3,835 | |
| Carter County | R | 4,316 | 5,252 | 9,813 | |
| Casey County | R | 1,219 | 4,679 | 5,957 | |
| Christian County | R | 8,880 | 13,699 | 22,778 | |
| Clark County | R | 5,749 | 9,664 | 15,628 | |
| Clay County | R | 1,552 | 5,710 | 7,364 | |
| Clinton County | R | 761 | 3,366 | 4,172 | |
| Crittenden County | R | 1,254 | 2,604 | 3,930 | |
| Cumberland County | R | 697 | 2,056 | 2,797 | |
| Daviess County | R | 19,282 | 23,692 | 43,622 | |
| Edmonson County | R | 1,652 | 3,562 | 5,270 | |
| Elliott County | D | 1,535 | 902 | 2,515 | |
| Estill County | R | 1,555 | 3,685 | 5,314 | |
| Fayette County | D | 66,042 | 59,884 | 127,639 | |
| Fleming County | R | 2,279 | 3,432 | 5,832 | |
| Floyd County | R | 7,530 | 7,741 | 15,659 | |
| Franklin County | R | 11,767 | 11,911 | 24,079 | |
| Fulton County | R | 1,238 | 1,530 | 2,825 | |
| Gallatin County | R | 1,278 | 1,840 | 3,193 | |
| Garrard County | R | 2,012 | 5,118 | 7,210 | |
| Grant County | R | 3,112 | 5,510 | 8,754 | |
| Graves County | R | 5,843 | 10,056 | 16,155 | |
| Grayson County | R | 3,154 | 6,605 | 9,903 | |
| Green County | R | 1,204 | 3,785 | 5,079 | |
| Greenup County | R | 6,621 | 8,849 | 15,798 | |
| Hancock County | D | 2,135 | 1,928 | 4,144 | |
| Hardin County | R | 15,650 | 23,896 | 39,990 | |
| Harlan County | R | 2,586 | 7,165 | 9,914 | |
| Harrison County | R | 2,916 | 4,520 | 7,590 | |
| Hart County | R | 2,290 | 4,397 | 6,818 | |
| Henderson County | D | 10,049 | 9,523 | 19,861 | |
| Henry County | R | 2,725 | 4,081 | 6,919 | |
| Hickman County | R | 812 | 1,406 | 2,250 | |
| Hopkins County | R | 7,104 | 11,916 | 19,348 | |
| Jackson County | R | 743 | 4,407 | 5,224 | |
| Jefferson County | D | 196,435 | 153,957 | 353,892 | |
| Jessamine County | R | 6,236 | 13,711 | 20,214 | |
| Johnson County | R | 2,407 | 5,948 | 8,517 | |
| Kenton County | R | 26,480 | 40,714 | 68,213 | |
| Knott County | R | 2,612 | 3,070 | 5,820 | |
| Knox County | R | 3,074 | 8,150 | 11,389 | |
| Larue County | R | 1,913 | 4,153 | 6,178 | |
| Laurel County | R | 4,618 | 17,660 | 22,500 | |
| Lawrence County | R | 2,036 | 3,503 | 5,649 | |
| Lee County | R | 752 | 1,978 | 2,773 | |
| Leslie County | R | 766 | 3,574 | 4,397 | |
| Letcher County | R | 2,623 | 5,367 | 8,235 | |
| Lewis County | R | 1,510 | 3,213 | 4,791 | |
| Lincoln County | R | 2,752 | 6,273 | 9,151 | |
| Livingston County | R | 1,622 | 2,890 | 4,593 | |
| Logan County | R | 3,811 | 6,925 | 10,890 | |
| Lyon County | R | 1,577 | 2,220 | 3,855 | |
| Madison County | R | 12,392 | 19,694 | 32,537 | |
| Magoffin County | R | 2,105 | 2,434 | 4,651 | |
| Marion County | R | 3,596 | 3,842 | 7,615 | |
| Marshall County | R | 5,683 | 9,512 | 15,487 | |
| Martin County | R | 808 | 2,824 | 3,692 | |
| Mason County | R | 2,891 | 4,102 | 7,121 | |
| McCracken County | R | 11,285 | 19,043 | 30,754 | |
| McCreary County | R | 1,258 | 4,078 | 5,407 | |
| McLean County | R | 1,963 | 2,386 | 4,422 | |
| Meade County | R | 4,343 | 6,691 | 11,206 | |
| Menifee County | D | 1,276 | 1,155 | 2,489 | |
| Mercer County | R | 3,159 | 6,781 | 10,060 | |
| Metcalfe County | R | 1,350 | 2,734 | 4,199 | |
| Monroe County | R | 1,067 | 3,537 | 4,665 | |
| Montgomery County | R | 4,234 | 5,947 | 10,331 | |
| Morgan County | R | 1,879 | 2,396 | 4,379 | |
| Muhlenberg County | R | 6,221 | 6,447 | 12,889 | |
| Nelson County | R | 7,654 | 10,139 | 18,146 | |
| Nicholas County | R | 1,272 | 1,634 | 2,970 | |
| Ohio County | R | 4,059 | 5,687 | 9,938 | |
| Oldham County | R | 10,000 | 18,997 | 29,316 | |
| Owen County | R | 1,694 | 2,969 | 4,751 | |
| Owsley County | R | 381 | 1,279 | 1,686 | |
| Pendleton County | R | 2,027 | 3,676 | 5,802 | |
| Perry County | R | 3,444 | 6,762 | 10,375 | |
| Pike County | R | 9,525 | 12,655 | 22,643 | |
| Powell County | R | 2,065 | 2,837 | 4,972 | |
| Pulaski County | R | 5,590 | 19,862 | 25,766 | |
| Robertson County | R | 451 | 533 | 1,015 | |
| Rockcastle County | R | 1,410 | 4,757 | 6,274 | |
| Rowan County | D | 4,074 | 3,907 | 8,154 | |
| Russell County | R | 1,569 | 5,779 | 7,475 | |
| Scott County | R | 7,712 | 11,782 | 19,730 | |
| Shelby County | R | 6,871 | 11,451 | 18,540 | |
| Simpson County | R | 2,775 | 4,437 | 7,309 | |
| Spencer County | R | 2,519 | 5,378 | 8,049 | |
| Taylor County | R | 3,165 | 7,568 | 10,860 | |
| Todd County | R | 1,543 | 3,336 | 4,941 | |
| Trigg County | R | 2,246 | 4,189 | 6,527 | |
| Trimble County | R | 1,484 | 2,239 | 3,812 | |
| Union County | R | 2,804 | 3,120 | 6,034 | |
| Warren County | R | 17,669 | 25,993 | 44,145 | |
| Washington County | R | 1,890 | 3,305 | 5,275 | |
| Wayne County | R | 2,201 | 4,868 | 7,196 | |
| Webster County | R | 2,390 | 3,037 | 5,540 | |
| Whitley County | R | 3,484 | 10,015 | 13,704 | |
| Wolfe County | D | 1,493 | 1,408 | 2,968 | |
| Woodford County | R | 5,027 | 7,130 | 12,297 |
Same ballot, 2008KY
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 2008 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.