Winston-Salem, NC Politics: Is It Liberal or Conservative?

Election Results and Trends in Winston-Salem, NC

In the last Presidential election, Winston-Salem, NC voted predominantly Democrat, with 56.2% of voters casting their ballot for Biden, while 42.3% of voters in Winston-Salem voted for Trump, and other parties voting 1.6%. Based on these voting patterns, Winston-Salem is considered a moderately liberal city. Specifically, it ranks 160th out of the most populated 333 cities in the United States in terms of liberalism based on the 2020 Presidential election results. Conversely, when looking at the conservative voting patterns in the 2020 election, Winston-Salem ranks 165th out of the 333 most populated cities, indicating a relatively low conservative vote.

Presidential Elections Voting Trend

The last six Presidential election results (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) for Winston-Salem, NC are: R R D D D D

Winston-Salem, located in Forsyth County, has seen an exciting shift in voting patterns. During the 1996 election, voters favored Bob Dole, a conservative candidate. However, since the 2000 election, they've consistently selected liberal candidates: Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry (2004), Barack Obama (2008 and 2012), and Hillary Clinton (2016). Joe Biden continued this trend in 2020. The city's preference for liberal candidates in recent presidential elections reflects a broader political shift in the urban areas of North Carolina.

Local Elections

At the local level in Winston-Salem, elections have been leaning more toward liberal candidates. The City Council has had most Democrat members for most of the last 25 years, focusing on progressive policies like affordable housing and community engagement. The city's Mayors, often aligned with Democrat principles, have also led initiatives that resonate with liberal values. These trends mirror the city's focus on inclusive growth and urban revitalization.

The assessments presented on this website, including those related to crime, safety, cost of living, and other location characteristics (e.g., states, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, areas, landmarks), are based on various sources and our internal research methods. These assessments are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete and should not be used as the sole basis for making any decisions.