| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 1,279 | 5,770 | 7,187 | |
| 2020 | R | 1,711 | 6,012 | 7,831 | |
| 2016 | R | 1,459 | 5,307 | 7,137 | |
| 2012 | R | 2,227 | 4,383 | 6,818 | |
| 2008 | R | 3,029 | 3,637 | 6,835 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,048 | 4,102 | 8,312 | |
| 2000 | D | 3,939 | 3,389 | 7,464 | |
| 1996 | D | 4,994 | 2,530 | 8,235 | |
| 1992 | D | 4,502 | 2,637 | 7,984 | |
| 1988 | D | 5,049 | 3,457 | 8,529 | |
| 1984 | D | 5,467 | 4,405 | 9,902 | |
| 1980 | D | 5,317 | 4,009 | 9,490 | |
| 1976 | D | 5,260 | 2,997 | 8,257 | |
| 1972 | R | 3,876 | 4,673 | 8,549 | |
| 1968 | D | 4,386 | 3,662 | 8,631 | |
| 1964 | D | 5,852 | 3,436 | 9,288 | |
| 1960 | D | 5,023 | 4,579 | 9,602 | |
| 1956 | D | 4,972 | 4,954 | 9,926 | |
| 1952 | D | 5,099 | 4,784 | 9,883 | |
| 1948 | D | 4,433 | 4,065 | 8,514 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,654 | 4,175 | 7,829 | |
| 1940 | D | 5,228 | 4,818 | 10,046 | |
| 1936 | D | 5,370 | 4,382 | 9,752 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,876 | 3,881 | 8,757 | |
| 1928 | R | 3,416 | 3,823 | 7,239 | |
| 1924 | D | 3,355 | 3,164 | 6,690 | |
| 1920 | R | 2,649 | 3,339 | 6,008 | |
| 1916 | D | 2,113 | 2,104 | 4,276 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,876 | 631 | 4,181 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,732 | 2,202 | 3,998 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,586 | 2,080 | 3,719 | |
| 1900 | D | 1,712 | 1,487 | 3,199 | |
| 1896 | D | 1,364 | 1,334 | 2,706 | |
| 1892 | D | 1,081 | 840 | 2,257 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Lincoln County's R+62.5 margin in 2024 reflects a broader Appalachian shift that has made once-competitive coalfield counties among the most reliably Republican in the state. Its population of roughly 22,000 has declined steadily as the regional economy contracted.
The 2004 election was the turning point, when the Republican candidate carried the county by one points. The 2024 margin was sixty-two points, in line with the county's new direction.
The demographics suggest why. A population of 19,902, a 97% non-Hispanic-white share, and a median household income of $46,205 situate the county in the broader realignment patterns of recent cycles. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Dickenson County and Summers County.
