| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 963 | 3,014 | 4,025 | |
| 2020 | R | 1,116 | 2,954 | 4,136 | |
| 2016 | R | 1,106 | 2,588 | 3,855 | |
| 2012 | R | 1,629 | 1,999 | 3,680 | |
| 2008 | R | 1,716 | 2,032 | 3,835 | |
| 2004 | R | 1,688 | 2,175 | 3,897 | |
| 2000 | R | 1,601 | 1,818 | 3,499 | |
| 1996 | D | 1,689 | 1,170 | 3,237 | |
| 1992 | D | 2,119 | 1,046 | 3,746 | |
| 1988 | D | 1,913 | 1,702 | 3,636 | |
| 1984 | R | 1,564 | 1,824 | 3,400 | |
| 1980 | D | 2,127 | 1,076 | 3,328 | |
| 1976 | D | 2,251 | 815 | 3,099 | |
| 1972 | D | 1,308 | 1,228 | 2,574 | |
| 1968 | D | 1,765 | 868 | 3,152 | |
| 1964 | D | 2,592 | 491 | 3,105 | |
| 1960 | D | 2,225 | 1,135 | 3,360 | |
| 1956 | D | 2,169 | 1,130 | 3,316 | |
| 1952 | D | 2,605 | 1,019 | 3,632 | |
| 1948 | D | 2,626 | 639 | 3,345 | |
| 1944 | D | 2,662 | 755 | 3,428 | |
| 1940 | D | 2,915 | 804 | 3,730 | |
| 1936 | D | 2,718 | 794 | 3,547 | |
| 1932 | D | 3,015 | 761 | 3,795 | |
| 1928 | D | 1,863 | 1,649 | 3,515 | |
| 1924 | D | 2,243 | 1,306 | 3,569 | |
| 1920 | D | 3,209 | 906 | 4,141 | |
| 1916 | D | 1,757 | 535 | 2,311 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,573 | 317 | 2,101 | |
| 1908 | D | 1,514 | 546 | 2,107 | |
| 1904 | D | 1,548 | 546 | 2,150 | |
| 1900 | D | 1,808 | 749 | 2,584 | |
| 1896 | D | 1,778 | 685 | 2,519 | |
| 1892 | D | 1,574 | 542 | 2,192 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Carroll County sits along the Ohio River northwest of Louisville with roughly 10,000 residents. Once more competitive, it has shifted decisively in presidential races over the past decade, posting R+51 in 2024.
The unraveling was not abrupt. The Democratic margin in Carroll County peaked at sixty-eight points in 1964; it narrowed steadily over the late twentieth century. The 2000 election delivered the county to the Republican party for the first time in many years, by a margin of six points. By 2024, the margin had widened further.
The economic and demographic context is severe. Carroll County's median household income of $56,466 is among the lowest of any county in the United States; 23% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Marion County and Perry County.