| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 3,985 | 5,207 | 9,323 | |
| 2020 | R | 3,995 | 4,871 | 9,014 | |
| 2016 | R | 3,569 | 4,013 | 8,069 | |
| 2012 | D | 4,969 | 3,573 | 8,655 | |
| 2008 | D | 5,041 | 3,298 | 8,450 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,501 | 4,836 | 9,420 | |
| 2000 | R | 3,837 | 3,994 | 8,293 | |
| 1996 | D | 3,502 | 2,642 | 7,222 | |
| 1992 | D | 3,458 | 3,144 | 8,540 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,643 | 4,026 | 7,708 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,844 | 4,858 | 7,753 | |
| 1980 | R | 3,413 | 4,601 | 8,588 | |
| 1976 | R | 3,634 | 4,466 | 8,251 | |
| 1972 | R | 2,492 | 5,062 | 7,654 | |
| 1968 | R | 2,288 | 4,141 | 6,922 | |
| 1964 | D | 4,315 | 3,224 | 7,548 | |
| 1960 | R | 2,965 | 5,253 | 8,229 | |
| 1956 | R | 2,783 | 5,062 | 7,874 | |
| 1952 | R | 2,260 | 6,605 | 8,875 | |
| 1948 | R | 2,990 | 3,836 | 6,906 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,109 | 5,088 | 8,226 | |
| 1940 | R | 3,524 | 5,527 | 9,139 | |
| 1936 | R | 4,080 | 4,245 | 8,686 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,027 | 3,256 | 7,435 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,262 | 5,685 | 8,022 | |
| 1924 | R | 898 | 2,669 | 6,338 | |
| 1920 | R | 917 | 3,952 | 5,130 | |
| 1916 | R | 1,845 | 2,051 | 4,224 | |
| 1912 | R | 1,493 | 1,623 | 3,958 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,689 | 2,464 | 4,494 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,340 | 2,698 | 4,386 | |
| 1900 | R | 1,524 | 2,593 | 4,357 | |
| 1896 | R | 2,098 | 2,636 | 4,879 | |
| 1892 | R | 1,670 | 2,194 | 4,389 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Richland County sits in Wisconsin's rugged Driftless Area, and its small-farm, largely white rural population has shifted steadily rightward over the past decade, moving from a competitive swing county to a consistent double-digit Republican margin.
The Democratic margin in Richland County has rarely exceeded twenty-one points in modern history; the Republican margin has rarely exceeded fifty-nine points. 2024 delivered the county to the Republican candidate by thirteen points.
Richland County's demographics resemble the country more than they resemble most counties. A 93% non-Hispanic-white share, a 15% poverty rate, and a median household income of $66,420 — all within the broad national range. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of LaPorte County and Grant County.