| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 3,329 | 9,302 | 12,821 | |
| 2020 | R | 3,630 | 8,993 | 12,841 | |
| 2016 | R | 3,158 | 7,856 | 11,452 | |
| 2012 | R | 3,701 | 6,398 | 10,248 | |
| 2008 | R | 4,234 | 5,947 | 10,331 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,506 | 5,647 | 10,230 | |
| 2000 | R | 3,833 | 4,534 | 8,519 | |
| 1996 | D | 3,372 | 2,681 | 6,796 | |
| 1992 | D | 3,686 | 2,590 | 7,611 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,082 | 3,435 | 6,537 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,490 | 3,864 | 6,377 | |
| 1980 | D | 3,391 | 2,869 | 6,418 | |
| 1976 | D | 3,141 | 2,032 | 5,234 | |
| 1972 | R | 1,657 | 2,868 | 4,579 | |
| 1968 | R | 1,408 | 2,113 | 4,508 | |
| 1964 | D | 3,039 | 1,540 | 4,583 | |
| 1960 | D | 2,629 | 2,451 | 5,080 | |
| 1956 | D | 2,656 | 2,220 | 4,895 | |
| 1952 | D | 2,653 | 1,981 | 4,648 | |
| 1948 | D | 2,731 | 1,083 | 3,960 | |
| 1944 | D | 2,334 | 1,481 | 3,823 | |
| 1940 | D | 2,755 | 1,671 | 4,439 | |
| 1936 | D | 2,594 | 1,649 | 4,267 | |
| 1932 | D | 2,810 | 1,515 | 4,338 | |
| 1928 | R | 1,938 | 2,742 | 4,699 | |
| 1924 | D | 2,347 | 1,956 | 4,354 | |
| 1920 | D | 3,069 | 2,163 | 5,260 | |
| 1916 | D | 1,705 | 1,195 | 2,923 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,615 | 758 | 2,794 | |
| 1908 | D | 1,549 | 1,305 | 2,894 | |
| 1904 | D | 1,488 | 1,266 | 2,807 | |
| 1900 | D | 1,589 | 1,533 | 3,139 | |
| 1896 | D | 1,624 | 1,484 | 3,136 | |
| 1892 | D | 1,507 | 1,041 | 2,616 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Montgomery County, anchored by the small city of Mount Sterling, swung to R+46.6 in 2024, reflecting the deep partisan realignment that has reshaped rural Appalachian-adjacent counties over the past two decades.
The unraveling was not abrupt. The Democratic margin in Montgomery County peaked at forty-two points in 1948; 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 eight points. By 2024, the margin had widened further.
The economic and demographic context is severe. Montgomery County's median household income of $56,396 is among the lowest of any county in the United States; 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Sharp County and Madison County.