New Trier Township stays deep blue, bucking nationwide election trend; Voter turnout, though, dips

Looking at nationwide data of the 2020 General Election, American voters as a whole inched to the right, resulting in a victory for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Compared to four years ago, Trump in the aggregate improved in many areas, including the suburbs.

But that was not the case here in the North Shore, according to election results that the Cook County Clerk’s Office officially certified on Nov. 26.

The presidential race attracted nearly 33,000 New Trier Township voters, with 72.4% of them selecting the Kamala Harris-Tim Waltz ticket. Four years ago, the percentage of Township votes for the Democratic choice (President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris) was nearly identical (72.66%); however, amid a higher registered-voter total, the ’20 results included approximately 3,000 more votes.

Of the 43,766 registered voters in the township this election, 33,861 cast ballots — a turnout of 77.4%. Registered voters in New Trier Township declined (down from 45,459) since 2020, when the registered-voter turnout was 80.85%.

The 2020 turnout was the highest since 2008 (82.42%), when Barack Obama was elected to his first term as U.S. president; though, New Trier Township turnout rates have historically been above average. In 2016 (79.91%) and 2012 (79.49%), the number also nearly touched 80 percent.

Suburban turnout across Cook County, at 66.5%, was down from the 2020 Presidential Election (71.1%), as about 100,000 fewer votes were cast.

Early voting totals across Cook County (464,140), though, surpassed the total of 2020 (453,077).

A longstanding Democratic stronghold, New Trier Township is divided into 39 precincts and all of them favored Harris-Waltz over Trump and runningmate JD Vance at the polls.

Outside the area, New Trier’s bordering townships also voted for the Democrats — Northfield at 64.5% (vs. 65.1% in 2020), Niles at 60.3% (vs. 66.29%) and Evanston at 90.93% (vs. 90.91%). Suburban Cook County as a whole voted 63.08% pro-Harris (vs. 66.39%).

Up in Lake County, 315,616 ballots were cast for a turnout rate of 70.6% (450,498 registered voters). That percentage was actually slightly higher than 2020, when turnout in Lake County was 69.37% (337,976 ballots vs. 487,181 registered voters).

Support for the blue presidential ticket this election, though, dipped to 59.69% (184,642 votes) from 61.06% (204,032) in 2020.

Breaking it down in Moraine Township, which is primarily made up of Highland Park, the numbers were significantly higher. Voter turnout was 77% and support for Harris-Waltz 78.8%.

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