| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 6,386 | 17,064 | 23,877 | |
| 2020 | R | 6,350 | 16,640 | 23,711 | |
| 2016 | R | 4,763 | 14,569 | 21,129 | |
| 2012 | R | 5,365 | 13,570 | 19,453 | |
| 2008 | R | 5,867 | 13,097 | 19,293 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,100 | 14,222 | 18,608 | |
| 2000 | R | 3,927 | 11,931 | 16,461 | |
| 1996 | R | 4,277 | 10,004 | 15,856 | |
| 1992 | R | 3,747 | 9,726 | 17,649 | |
| 1988 | R | 4,702 | 9,981 | 14,828 | |
| 1984 | R | 3,086 | 11,365 | 14,550 | |
| 1980 | R | 3,167 | 9,769 | 14,243 | |
| 1976 | R | 4,308 | 8,095 | 12,777 | |
| 1972 | R | 2,988 | 8,587 | 11,575 | |
| 1968 | R | 2,875 | 6,786 | 10,394 | |
| 1964 | D | 5,436 | 5,425 | 10,861 | |
| 1960 | R | 3,891 | 7,595 | 11,486 | |
| 1956 | R | 3,100 | 7,342 | 10,442 | |
| 1952 | R | 2,501 | 8,467 | 10,968 | |
| 1948 | R | 3,716 | 4,862 | 8,578 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,852 | 6,073 | 9,925 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,060 | 6,387 | 10,447 | |
| 1936 | D | 6,002 | 4,595 | 10,972 | |
| 1932 | D | 5,872 | 3,773 | 9,923 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,801 | 7,460 | 10,329 | |
| 1924 | R | 2,337 | 4,746 | 8,771 | |
| 1920 | R | 2,258 | 4,954 | 7,557 | |
| 1916 | D | 2,877 | 2,216 | 5,303 | |
| 1912 | D | 2,061 | 1,081 | 4,714 | |
| 1908 | R | 2,520 | 2,526 | 5,197 | |
| 1904 | R | 731 | 2,554 | 4,115 | |
| 1900 | D | 2,056 | 1,916 | 4,125 | |
| 1896 | D | 2,433 | 1,835 | 4,376 | |
| 1892 | D | 1,864 | 377 | 4,355 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Buffalo County, anchored by Kearney along the Platte River, has delivered Republican presidential margins exceeding 40 points in recent cycles, reflecting the deep-red tilt of Nebraska's rural interior despite hosting a regional university and retail hub.
The Republican margin in Buffalo County reached its widest at fifty-seven points in 1984. The margin in 2024 was forty-five points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Buffalo County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $75,911, a 87% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 50,579 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 Platte County and Canyon County.