| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 9,567 | 18,296 | 28,222 | |
| 2020 | R | 9,370 | 16,611 | 26,371 | |
| 2016 | R | 7,565 | 13,810 | 22,745 | |
| 2012 | R | 10,073 | 12,094 | 22,573 | |
| 2008 | R | 10,876 | 11,282 | 22,643 | |
| 2004 | R | 11,173 | 12,095 | 23,503 | |
| 2000 | R | 8,961 | 9,557 | 19,762 | |
| 1996 | D | 8,334 | 5,387 | 16,413 | |
| 1992 | D | 7,746 | 5,446 | 18,071 | |
| 1988 | D | 8,981 | 6,866 | 15,975 | |
| 1984 | R | 8,034 | 8,106 | 16,269 | |
| 1980 | D | 7,607 | 7,207 | 16,296 | |
| 1976 | D | 8,485 | 6,159 | 14,924 | |
| 1972 | R | 5,738 | 6,567 | 12,533 | |
| 1968 | R | 5,179 | 5,583 | 11,433 | |
| 1964 | D | 7,215 | 3,754 | 11,003 | |
| 1960 | R | 5,148 | 6,387 | 11,565 | |
| 1956 | R | 4,985 | 5,894 | 10,906 | |
| 1952 | R | 4,274 | 6,966 | 11,282 | |
| 1948 | D | 5,330 | 3,974 | 9,572 | |
| 1944 | R | 4,489 | 5,329 | 9,945 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,979 | 6,031 | 11,248 | |
| 1936 | D | 5,618 | 3,596 | 10,499 | |
| 1932 | D | 5,421 | 3,425 | 9,232 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,177 | 6,905 | 9,190 | |
| 1924 | R | 317 | 2,793 | 7,434 | |
| 1920 | R | 752 | 4,796 | 5,960 | |
| 1916 | R | 1,713 | 2,080 | 4,062 | |
| 1912 | R | 830 | 848 | 3,125 | |
| 1908 | R | 816 | 2,788 | 3,871 | |
| 1904 | R | 296 | 2,985 | 3,489 | |
| 1900 | R | 694 | 2,735 | 3,530 | |
| 1896 | R | 891 | 2,861 | 3,837 | |
| 1892 | R | 585 | 1,477 | 2,448 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Polk County's largely rural, non-college electorate has shifted steadily rightward over the past decade, producing a 30-point Republican presidential margin in 2024 despite sitting on the Minnesota border in a competitive swing state.
The Republican margin in Polk County reached its widest at seventy-seven points in 1904. The margin in 2024 was thirty-one points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Polk County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $77,219, a 94% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 45,555 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 Burnett County and Delta County.
