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Pivot Counties by state

From Ballotpedia

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2016 Pivot Counties

Analysis
Pivot counties overview
List of counties
Historical voting patterns
Historical voting analysis, 1992-2004
Demographics
Reverse-Pivot Counties
Voter turnout
Pivot Counties by state
Pivot Counties in congressional districts
Pivot Counties in state legislative districts
Pivot Counties and ballot measures

2018 elections analysis
Pivot counties in U.S. House elections
Pivot counties in state legislative elections
Reverse pivot counties in U.S. House elections

To read aboutPivot Counties in the 2024 presidential election,click here


Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.[1] Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes, and had an average margin of victory of 11.45 percent. The 206 counties are located in 34 states. These counties are sometimes referred to asswing counties by media and political observers.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Iowa had the most Pivot Counties of any state, with 31.
  • The state with the highest percentage of Pivot Counties was Maine, where Pivot Counties made up 50 percent of the state's total counties. Maine also had the highest percentage of state population living in Pivot Counties, with 47.08 percent.
  • Since 1960, Pivot Counties have matched the national election result in 73.07 percent of presidential elections.
  • The following map displays the Pivot Counties that voted for Obama, Obama, and Trump:

    The table below details the number of Pivot Counties in each state. To see a full list of Pivot Counties, clickhere. For more complete information on a state, click the state name.

    Pivot Counties By State
    StatePivot CountiesTotal CountiesPercentage of Pivot CountiesPercentage of Population in Pivot Counties
    Arkansas1751.33%0.24%
    Colorado4646.25%0.57%
    Connecticut1812.50%3.28%
    Delaware1333.33%18.26%
    Florida4675.97%6.71%
    Georgia51593.14%0.57%
    Illinois1110210.78%4.52%
    Indiana5925.43%7.98%
    Iowa319931.31%26.11%
    Kentucky11200.83%0.18%
    Maine81650.00%47.08%
    Michigan128314.46%18.36%
    Minnesota198721.84%9.97%
    Mississippi2822.44%3.09%
    Montana3565.36%3.37%
    Nebraska1931.08%0.37%
    New Hampshire31030.00%36.20%
    New Jersey2219.52%4.00%
    New Mexico3339.09%4.54%
    New York186229.03%19.37%
    North Carolina61006.00%3.18%
    North Dakota4537.55%2.56%
    Ohio98810.23%13.95%
    Oregon2365.56%1.91%
    Pennsylvania3674.48%7.05%
    Rhode Island1520.00%15.69%
    South Carolina54610.87%2.50%
    South Dakota5667.58%3.31%
    Tennessee1951.05%0.41%
    Texas12540.39%0.97%
    Vermont1147.14%0.99%
    Virginia51333.76%3.95%
    Washington53912.82%4.74%
    Wisconsin237231.94%17.35%

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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    2016 Pivot Counties
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