Politics

Presidential Election Results 1960–2012 Year Democrat Republican 2012 53.40% 349,055 45.37% 296,531 2008 56.42% 373,270 41.94% 277,480 2004 49.75% 319,387 49.32% 316,633 2000 49.31% 281,201 48.10% 274,319 1996 47.84% 241,884 43.48% 219,855 1992 38.64% 214,733 43.57% 242,160 1988 37.78% 174,745 61.27% 283,359 1984 32.76% 150,286 66.71% 306,050 1980 35.58% 164,869 54.65% 253,211 1976 39.47% 164,266 58.69% 244,271 1972 34.16% 129,400 63.78% 241,613 1968 44.76% 154,630 45.31% 156,538 1964 61.44% 182,797 38.33% 114,025 1960 45.39% 135,531 54.27% 162,026

Oakland County historically was a stronghold of the Republican Party, a classic bastion of suburban conservatism for most of the 20th century. However, since the 1990s it has become more of a swing county and has voted for the Democratic candidate for President in the last five elections. Democrats also hold four of the six county-wide elective offices.

In 1996, Bill Clinton became the first Democrat to secure the plurality of Oakland County presidential votes since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Al Gore and John Kerry also won by razor-thin pluralities with Oakland County voters against President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. In 2008, Barack Obama had a 14% majority in Oakland County, the first Democrat to win a majority in the country since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. (See chart at right). He again carried the county in 2012, though by a smaller margin.

In 2006, Oakland County favored incumbent Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) by 10 percent margin while favoring Attorney General Mike Cox (R) by 16% and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) by 21%. The Republican Party swept Oakland County's 2010 statewide elections favoring Governor Rick Snyder (R) by a 22 percent margin and nine percent margins for both AG Bill Schuette and SoS Ruth Johnson. However, most countywide offices are still held by Republicans, and Republicans still have a majority on the county commission.

In the 111th Congress, Oakland County is represented by two Democrats, Gary Peters and Sander Levin, and two Republicans, Thaddeus McCotter and Mike Rogers. Peters was elected in 2008 to represent the 9th District, which covers almost two-thirds of the county. The 9th and its predecessors had been held by Republicans for 75 years before Peters' election.