Traverse City, MI
Leans Republican — 155K residents — 4 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 90.6% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(12) | 3.3% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 0.8% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.7% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(9) | 0.5% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(3) | 0.9% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.8% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 11.1% | 40.2% |
| Catholic | 8.9% | 32.4% |
| Mainline Protestant | 5.8% | 21.0% |
| Other | 1.5% | 5.5% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 2.4% |
| Black Protestant | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| Non-religious | 72.4% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+5.5 |
| 2020 | Trump+6.5 |
| 2016 | Trump+14.2 |
| 2012 | Romney+10.6 |
| 2008 | McCain+1.2 |
| 2004 | Bush+17.5 |
| 2000 | Bush+18.2 |
| 1996 | Dole+7.2 |
| 1992 | Bush+4.5 |
Traverse City, MI is a metro area that has a population of 155,449. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+5.5. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 46.5% | 52.0% | R+5.5 | D+1.0 |
| 2020 | 45.9% | 52.4% | R+6.5 | D+7.7 |
| 2016 | 39.7% | 53.9% | R+14.2 | R+3.5 |
| 2012 | 43.9% | 54.6% | R+10.6 | R+9.4 |
| 2008 | 48.5% | 49.8% | R+1.2 | D+16.2 |
| 2004 | 40.7% | 58.2% | R+17.5 | D+0.8 |
| 2000 | 38.9% | 57.1% | R+18.2 | R+11.0 |
| 1996 | 40.3% | 47.5% | R+7.2 | R+2.7 |
| 1992 | 33.8% | 38.4% | R+4.5 | D+18.8 |
| 1988 | 37.9% | 61.2% | R+23.3 | D+16.0 |
| 1984 | 30.0% | 69.4% | R+39.4 | R+12.1 |
| 1980 | 30.5% | 57.8% | R+27.3 | R+1.7 |
| 1976 | 36.3% | 62.0% | R+25.6 | D+6.9 |
| 1972 | 32.6% | 65.2% | R+32.5 | R+5.0 |
| 1968 | 32.9% | 60.4% | R+27.6 | R+36.9 |
| 1964 | 54.6% | 45.2% | D+9.4 | D+36.5 |
| 1960 | 36.4% | 63.4% | R+27.1 | D+17.2 |
| 1956 | 27.7% | 72.0% | R+44.2 | D+7.3 |
| 1952 | 24.0% | 75.5% | R+51.5 | R+14.0 |
| 1948 | 30.1% | 67.6% | R+37.5 | — |
What defines Traverse City, MI?
Traverse City, MI voted solidly Republican in 2024. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, revealing how its political character has evolved over more than a century.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Traverse City, MI
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse | 96K | R+1.7 | 30,339 | 31,423 | 62,772 | 59.9% |
| Leelanau | 23K | D+7.8 | 9,406 | 8,035 | 17,685 | 16.9% |
| Benzie | 18K | R+8.7 | 5,780 | 6,895 | 12,846 | 12.3% |
| Kalkaska | 18K | R+42.9 | 3,206 | 8,149 | 11,529 | 11.0% |
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Republican in the last 5 presidential elections
- The 2008 election was decided by just 1.2 points — razor-thin
- Margins have been narrowing — from 14.2pp to 5.5pp over the last 3 presidential elections
Who Lives Here
| Group | Traverse City, MI | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 90.6% | 57.4% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.8% | 4.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(12) | 3.3% | 19.3% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(3) | 0.9% | 0.9% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 0.8% | 12.2% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.7% | 6.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(9) | 0.5% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -12.3pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.1% | 40.2% | — | — | |
| 8.9% | 32.4% | — | — | |
| 5.8% | 21.0% | — | — | |
| 1.5% | 5.5% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 2.4% | — | — |
| 0.2% | 0.7% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 72.4% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Traverse City, MI metro area? 155,449 residents across 4 counties.
Demographics
39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 6pp above the national average. Places with similar education levels vote D+8 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 Traverse City, MI
How competitive is Traverse City, MI?
Do voters in Traverse City, MI split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | R+5.5 | R+5.8 | 0.3pp |