How 7 key ‘bellwether’ counties voted in the 2024 election
Seven key swing counties, known as “bellwether counties,” have been crucial in determining the outcome of presidential elections for decades. These counties, including Door County, Wisconsin; Kent County, Michigan; Vigo County, Indiana; Clallam County in Washington; and Bucks, Erie, and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, have often sided with the winning candidate. However, in the 2024 election, there were some surprises and upsets in how these battleground counties voted.
In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a primarily suburban county just north of Philadelphia, Trump led by a slim margin of 512 votes, marking a potential win for the Republican candidate for the first time since 1988. Similarly, Trump also led in Erie and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, signifying a shift from the results in 2020 when Biden won these counties by narrow margins.
In Door County, Wisconsin, a traditional bellwether county, voters chose Harris over Trump in a deviation from the state’s overall outcome. Trump carried Wisconsin as a whole, while Harris won the county. In Kent County, Michigan, another bellwether county, Harris secured the majority of votes, continuing a trend of the chosen candidate winning the state and the general election in recent years.
Vigo County, Indiana, a bellwether county with a long history of choosing the winning candidate, supported Trump in both the county and statewide elections. Clallam County in Washington, known for its consistent record of voting for the winning candidate, also favored Harris in the 2024 election.
Despite these deviations from past trends, the outcome of the 2024 election in these bellwether counties reflects the competitive nature of the political landscape in key battleground states. The demographics and political preferences of these counties play a significant role in shaping the path to victory for presidential candidates. As the results continue to unfold, the impact of these swing counties on the overall election outcome remains crucial.
The 2024 election highlighted the dynamic nature of these bellwether counties and their influence on the national political landscape. With each county representing a microcosm of the nation’s diverse electorate, their voting patterns provide valuable insights into the shifting political dynamics and the strategies needed to secure victory in future elections.
