Ottawa, IL
Safe Republican — shifted 3.8pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 147K residents — 3 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 82.9% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(15) | 10.8% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 2.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.8% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(7) | 0.4% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1) | 0.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.2% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 18.1% | 45.9% |
| Evangelical Protestant | 11.1% | 28.3% |
| Mainline Protestant | 9.1% | 23.1% |
| Other | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Black Protestant | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Non-religious | 60.6% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+19.9 |
| 2020 | Trump+16.2 |
| 2016 | Trump+15.9 |
| 2012 | Romney+0.2 |
| 2008 | Obama+10.0 |
| 2004 | Bush+5.0 |
| 2000 | Gore+2.3 |
| 1996 | Clinton+12.9 |
| 1992 | Clinton+12.0 |
Ottawa, IL is a metro area that has a population of 147,181. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+19.9. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.2% | 59.2% | R+19.9 | R+3.8 |
| 2020 | 40.8% | 57.0% | R+16.2 | R+0.3 |
| 2016 | 38.5% | 54.4% | R+15.9 | R+15.6 |
| 2012 | 48.7% | 49.0% | R+0.2 | R+10.2 |
| 2008 | 54.0% | 44.0% | D+10.0 | D+15.0 |
| 2004 | 47.1% | 52.2% | R+5.0 | R+7.4 |
| 2000 | 50.1% | 47.8% | D+2.3 | R+10.6 |
| 1996 | 50.1% | 37.2% | D+12.9 | D+0.9 |
| 1992 | 45.5% | 33.6% | D+12.0 | D+14.1 |
| 1988 | 48.7% | 50.8% | R+2.1 | D+15.1 |
| 1984 | 41.2% | 58.4% | R+17.2 | D+7.2 |
| 1980 | 34.0% | 58.4% | R+24.4 | R+16.6 |
| 1976 | 45.4% | 53.3% | R+7.8 | D+15.0 |
| 1972 | 38.5% | 61.3% | R+22.8 | R+11.3 |
| 1968 | 41.5% | 53.0% | R+11.5 | R+24.4 |
| 1964 | 56.5% | 43.5% | D+12.9 | D+19.5 |
| 1960 | 46.7% | 53.2% | R+6.6 | D+26.0 |
| 1956 | 33.7% | 66.3% | R+32.6 | R+6.3 |
| 1952 | 36.8% | 63.0% | R+26.3 | R+10.7 |
| 1948 | 41.9% | 57.4% | R+15.5 | — |
What defines Ottawa, IL?
Ottawa, IL has been won by both parties in the last 6 presidential elections (1D, 5R) — a genuine swing geography. It has a working-class electorate (21% college-educated) — a demographic increasingly aligned with Republicans nationwide.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Ottawa, IL
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- The 2012 election was decided by just 0.2 points — razor-thin
- Won by both parties in recent history — Democrats most recently in 2008, Republicans in 2024
- Shifted 19.7 points toward Republicans over the last 4 elections
Who Lives Here
| Group | Ottawa, IL | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 82.9% | 57.4% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(15) | 10.8% | 19.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.2% | 4.0% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 2.0% | 12.2% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.8% | 6.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(7) | 0.4% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1) | 0.2% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: +13.2pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Catholic-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Democratic-leaning urban and suburban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1% | 45.9% | — | — | |
| 11.1% | 28.3% | — | — | |
| 9.1% | 23.1% | — | — | |
| 0.9% | 2.3% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.3% | 0.9% | — | — |
| 0.1% | 0.3% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 60.6% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Ottawa, IL metro area? 147,181 residents across 3 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 Ottawa, IL
How competitive is Ottawa, IL?
Do voters in Ottawa, IL split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | R+9.7 | R+16.0 | 6.3pp |