| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 87,516 | 130,815 | 223,658 | |
| 2020 | R | 91,422 | 124,540 | 220,556 | |
| 2016 | R | 62,878 | 105,767 | 180,697 | |
| 2012 | R | 59,399 | 109,707 | 172,507 | |
| 2008 | R | 70,215 | 113,015 | 186,086 | |
| 2004 | R | 66,013 | 110,803 | 178,419 | |
| 2000 | R | 60,969 | 86,851 | 150,586 | |
| 1996 | R | 61,158 | 70,761 | 140,045 | |
| 1992 | R | 59,702 | 66,607 | 142,476 | |
| 1988 | R | 41,829 | 73,092 | 115,521 | |
| 1984 | R | 43,448 | 76,965 | 120,987 | |
| 1980 | R | 45,634 | 66,153 | 117,585 | |
| 1976 | R | 53,034 | 56,013 | 110,409 | |
| 1972 | R | 24,076 | 64,747 | 90,484 | |
| 1968 | R | 24,528 | 47,202 | 90,007 | |
| 1964 | R | 42,463 | 42,797 | 85,260 | |
| 1960 | R | 31,990 | 50,811 | 83,300 | |
| 1956 | R | 29,768 | 46,167 | 76,831 | |
| 1952 | R | 26,681 | 44,358 | 71,178 | |
| 1948 | R | 15,946 | 21,074 | 39,196 | |
| 1944 | R | 18,482 | 20,742 | 39,452 | |
| 1940 | D | 20,226 | 13,877 | 34,304 | |
| 1936 | D | 19,837 | 12,183 | 32,120 | |
| 1932 | D | 10,755 | 9,774 | 20,927 | |
| 1928 | R | 5,767 | 14,627 | 20,443 | |
| 1924 | R | 6,935 | 10,709 | 18,984 | |
| 1920 | R | 6,801 | 12,005 | 18,931 | |
| 1916 | R | 4,214 | 5,791 | 10,111 | |
| 1912 | D | 4,069 | 1,984 | 9,991 | |
| 1908 | R | 4,090 | 5,817 | 10,285 | |
| 1904 | R | 3,196 | 4,309 | 7,748 | |
| 1900 | D | 4,389 | 3,982 | 8,592 | |
| 1896 | R | 4,020 | 6,243 | 10,435 | |
| 1892 | R | 3,987 | 4,182 | 8,516 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Knox County anchors East Tennessee's urban core around Knoxville, but its Republican lean has deepened over successive cycles, with the 2024 presidential margin reaching nearly 20 points despite a large public-university population.
The Republican margin in Knox County reached its widest at forty-five points in 1972. The margin in 2024 was nineteen points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Knox County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $74,222, a 80% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 494,148 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 Benton County and Coweta County.
