Kankakee, IL
Safe Republican — shifted 4.3pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 107K residents — 1 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 68.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 12.7% |
▶Black / African American(9) | 14.3% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(7) | 0.3% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.5% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.6% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 20.9% | 43.3% |
| Evangelical Protestant | 15.1% | 31.3% |
| Mainline Protestant | 6.1% | 12.7% |
| Black Protestant | 4.7% | 9.7% |
| Other | 1.3% | 2.8% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Non-religious | 51.9% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+20.8 |
| 2020 | Trump+16.5 |
| 2016 | Trump+13.0 |
| 2012 | Romney+3.4 |
| 2008 | Obama+4.6 |
| 2004 | Bush+10.5 |
| 2000 | Bush+2.2 |
| 1996 | Clinton+6.3 |
| 1992 | Clinton+4.5 |
Kankakee, IL is a metro area that has a population of 106,635. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+20.8. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38.7% | 59.5% | R+20.8 | R+4.3 |
| 2020 | 40.5% | 57.0% | R+16.5 | R+3.5 |
| 2016 | 40.1% | 53.1% | R+13.0 | R+9.6 |
| 2012 | 47.3% | 50.7% | R+3.4 | R+8.0 |
| 2008 | 51.4% | 46.8% | D+4.6 | D+15.1 |
| 2004 | 44.4% | 54.9% | R+10.5 | R+8.3 |
| 2000 | 48.0% | 50.2% | R+2.2 | R+8.5 |
| 1996 | 47.7% | 41.4% | D+6.3 | D+1.8 |
| 1992 | 43.0% | 38.5% | D+4.5 | D+19.0 |
| 1988 | 42.4% | 56.8% | R+14.5 | D+7.1 |
| 1984 | 38.4% | 60.0% | R+21.6 | D+0.9 |
| 1980 | 35.8% | 58.3% | R+22.5 | R+11.5 |
| 1976 | 43.7% | 54.6% | R+10.9 | D+22.3 |
| 1972 | 33.3% | 66.5% | R+33.3 | R+18.7 |
| 1968 | 37.8% | 52.4% | R+14.5 | R+27.3 |
| 1964 | 56.4% | 43.6% | D+12.8 | D+21.3 |
| 1960 | 45.7% | 54.2% | R+8.5 | D+24.5 |
| 1956 | 33.5% | 66.5% | R+33.1 | R+9.9 |
| 1952 | 38.3% | 61.4% | R+23.2 | R+7.0 |
| 1948 | 41.6% | 57.7% | R+16.2 | — |
What defines Kankakee, IL?
Kankakee, IL has been trending Republican — 17pp redder over the last 4 presidential cycles. It has a working-class electorate (21% college-educated) — a demographic increasingly aligned with Republicans nationwide.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Kankakee, IL
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee | 107K | R+20.8 | 18,399 | 28,285 | 47,569 | 100.0% |
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Latest election (2024) was a Republican landslide with a 20.8% margin
- Won by both parties in recent history — Democrats most recently in 2008, Republicans in 2024
- Shifted 17.4 points toward Republicans over the last 4 elections
Who Lives Here
| Group | Kankakee, IL | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 68.0% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(9) | 14.3% | 12.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 12.7% | 19.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.6% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.0% | 6.0% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.5% | 0.9% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(7) | 0.3% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: +7.6pp (vs national 4.5pp). A moderate religious balance between Catholic and Evangelical traditions.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.9% | 43.3% | — | — | |
| 15.1% | 31.3% | — | — | |
| 6.1% | 12.7% | — | — | |
| 4.7% | 9.7% | — | — | |
| 1.3% | 2.8% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.5% | 1.0% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 51.9% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Kankakee, IL metro area? 106,635 residents across 1 counties.
Demographics
21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 12pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+15 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
Turnout in Kankakee, IL
How competitive is Kankakee, IL?
Do voters in Kankakee, IL split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | R+13.4 | R+21.4 | 8.0pp |