| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 3,883 | 6,650 | 10,832 | |
| 2020 | R | 4,016 | 6,581 | 10,900 | |
| 2016 | R | 3,301 | 5,659 | 9,623 | |
| 2012 | R | 4,226 | 5,495 | 9,974 | |
| 2008 | R | 4,838 | 5,039 | 10,134 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,237 | 6,003 | 10,431 | |
| 2000 | D | 4,904 | 3,596 | 8,740 | |
| 1996 | R | 3,775 | 3,885 | 8,826 | |
| 1992 | R | 3,404 | 3,430 | 9,372 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,777 | 4,186 | 8,043 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,932 | 5,161 | 8,145 | |
| 1980 | R | 2,698 | 5,355 | 8,747 | |
| 1976 | R | 3,987 | 4,029 | 8,087 | |
| 1972 | R | 3,835 | 4,366 | 8,225 | |
| 1968 | R | 2,733 | 3,977 | 7,092 | |
| 1964 | D | 3,747 | 3,208 | 6,955 | |
| 1960 | R | 3,061 | 4,065 | 7,126 | |
| 1956 | R | 2,987 | 4,063 | 7,050 | |
| 1952 | R | 2,220 | 4,802 | 7,022 | |
| 1948 | D | 2,932 | 2,904 | 5,893 | |
| 1944 | R | 2,359 | 3,313 | 5,672 | |
| 1940 | R | 3,064 | 4,179 | 7,243 | |
| 1936 | D | 4,349 | 2,702 | 7,438 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,930 | 1,693 | 6,730 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,841 | 2,971 | 5,839 | |
| 1924 | R | 693 | 1,504 | 3,781 | |
| 1920 | R | 1,147 | 2,555 | 4,134 | |
| 1916 | R | 1,429 | 1,438 | 2,937 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,289 | 0 | 2,928 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,118 | 1,644 | 2,894 | |
| 1904 | R | 788 | 1,968 | 2,851 | |
| 1900 | R | 1,268 | 1,639 | 2,940 | |
| 1896 | R | 1,330 | 1,423 | 2,769 | |
| 1892 | R | 228 | 1,166 | 2,160 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Yankton County's largest city, also called Yankton, functions as a regional hub for healthcare and retail, drawing workers from surrounding farm country. The county backed the Republican presidential nominee by 23.5 points in 2020.
The Republican margin in Yankton County reached its widest at forty-three points in 1892. The margin in 2024 was twenty-six points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Yankton County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $72,821, a 88% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 23,414 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 Codington County and Kingsbury County.
