| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 7,650 | 12,742 | 20,872 | |
| 2020 | R | 7,917 | 12,656 | 21,128 | |
| 2016 | R | 6,241 | 11,198 | 19,179 | |
| 2012 | R | 8,706 | 9,903 | 19,124 | |
| 2008 | R | 9,016 | 10,068 | 19,656 | |
| 2004 | R | 7,994 | 10,389 | 18,695 | |
| 2000 | R | 6,900 | 8,223 | 16,066 | |
| 1996 | D | 6,974 | 5,617 | 14,964 | |
| 1992 | R | 5,152 | 5,964 | 15,789 | |
| 1988 | R | 5,496 | 7,981 | 13,610 | |
| 1984 | R | 5,060 | 8,780 | 13,910 | |
| 1980 | R | 5,095 | 7,805 | 14,279 | |
| 1976 | R | 6,263 | 7,053 | 13,647 | |
| 1972 | R | 4,010 | 7,678 | 11,868 | |
| 1968 | R | 4,631 | 6,193 | 11,190 | |
| 1964 | D | 6,022 | 4,882 | 10,939 | |
| 1960 | R | 4,491 | 6,795 | 11,301 | |
| 1956 | R | 3,293 | 6,435 | 9,764 | |
| 1952 | R | 2,819 | 6,956 | 9,804 | |
| 1948 | R | 4,305 | 4,451 | 8,816 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,307 | 4,760 | 8,082 | |
| 1940 | R | 3,668 | 5,517 | 9,199 | |
| 1936 | D | 4,481 | 3,373 | 8,224 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,318 | 3,365 | 7,790 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,826 | 4,744 | 7,595 | |
| 1924 | R | 796 | 3,598 | 6,047 | |
| 1920 | R | 1,167 | 4,243 | 5,550 | |
| 1916 | R | 1,497 | 1,734 | 3,322 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,294 | 651 | 3,200 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,284 | 1,899 | 3,325 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,067 | 2,095 | 3,303 | |
| 1900 | R | 1,188 | 1,833 | 3,143 | |
| 1896 | R | 1,248 | 2,046 | 3,444 | |
| 1892 | D | 1,396 | 1,299 | 2,866 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Steele County anchors Minnesota's southern tier, where a largely rural, white working-class electorate has produced Republican presidential margins exceeding 20 points in each of the last three cycles.
The Republican margin in Steele County reached its widest at fifty-five points in 1920. The margin in 2024 was twenty-four points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Steele County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $84,196, a 86% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 37,439 together describe a community whose political habits are deeply settled. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Chemung County and Jefferson County.