| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 5,780 | 6,895 | 12,871 | |
| 2020 | R | 5,480 | 6,601 | 12,262 | |
| 2016 | R | 4,108 | 5,539 | 10,228 | |
| 2012 | R | 4,685 | 5,075 | 9,901 | |
| 2008 | D | 5,451 | 4,687 | 10,309 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,383 | 5,284 | 9,778 | |
| 2000 | R | 3,546 | 4,172 | 8,072 | |
| 1996 | D | 3,081 | 2,856 | 6,785 | |
| 1992 | D | 2,715 | 2,438 | 6,852 | |
| 1988 | R | 2,437 | 3,240 | 5,732 | |
| 1984 | R | 1,866 | 3,590 | 5,502 | |
| 1980 | R | 1,842 | 3,054 | 5,498 | |
| 1976 | R | 1,891 | 3,085 | 5,038 | |
| 1972 | R | 1,310 | 2,686 | 4,054 | |
| 1968 | R | 1,147 | 2,138 | 3,510 | |
| 1964 | D | 1,983 | 1,674 | 3,662 | |
| 1960 | R | 1,306 | 2,484 | 3,795 | |
| 1956 | R | 1,046 | 2,620 | 3,681 | |
| 1952 | R | 980 | 2,752 | 3,768 | |
| 1948 | R | 964 | 2,013 | 3,089 | |
| 1944 | R | 1,084 | 2,026 | 3,142 | |
| 1940 | R | 1,429 | 2,320 | 3,765 | |
| 1936 | R | 1,686 | 1,742 | 3,658 | |
| 1932 | R | 1,432 | 1,595 | 3,176 | |
| 1928 | R | 321 | 1,849 | 2,194 | |
| 1924 | R | 198 | 1,922 | 2,603 | |
| 1920 | R | 422 | 1,520 | 2,111 | |
| 1916 | R | 770 | 900 | 1,907 | |
| 1912 | R | 326 | 568 | 1,913 | |
| 1908 | R | 551 | 1,437 | 2,282 | |
| 1904 | R | 295 | 1,582 | 2,136 | |
| 1900 | R | 626 | 1,472 | 2,221 | |
| 1896 | R | 803 | 1,366 | 2,262 | |
| 1892 | R | 498 | 774 | 1,475 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Benzie sits along Lake Michigan's eastern shore with a population under 16,000, and its presidential margins have shifted notably since 2012, making it a useful bellwether for rural northwestern Michigan's political drift.
The Democratic margin in Benzie County has rarely exceeded eight points in modern history; the Republican margin has rarely exceeded seventy points. 2024 delivered the county to the Republican candidate by nine points.
Benzie County's demographics resemble the country more than they resemble most counties. A 92% non-Hispanic-white share, a 10% poverty rate, and a median household income of $74,834 — all within the broad national range. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Mason County and Vanderburgh County.
