Name: Clallam County continues its streak of picking every presidential winner since 1980
Brand: king5.com
SKU: king5-com-17
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Clallam County continues its streak of picking every presidential winner since 1980

preview

Breaking NewsThe county is one of 19 nationwide to have a perfect presidential win streak since Ronald Reagan.10:56 PM PST November 1, 2020CLALLAM COUNTY, Wash. — There must be something in the water on the Olympic Peninsula since voters in Clallam County have voted for the presidential winner every four years since 1980, which is the last 10 straight elections.As Clallam County goes, so goes the country."Well, I guess we're just smart," said Dick Pilling, laughing at this unusual election oddity. Pilling is a Port Angeles real estate agent and former chair of the Clallam County Republicans.It's an impressive string, all things considered.The county voted for these winners of their respective elections:&nbsp;In 1980, Reagan beat Carter 58.9% to 41.1In 1984, Reagan beat Mondale 57.3% to 40.9.In 1988, George Bush beat Dukakis in a squeaker, by 77 votes, 49.1%-48.8.In 1992, Bill Clinton defeated Bush 37.7-34.1In 1996, Bill Clinton won 42.6-42.1In 2000, George W. Bush beat Gore 49.53 to 42.In 2004, George W. Bush beat Kerry 51.33 to 46.37.In 2008, Barack Obama 50.55, McCain 47.25In 2012, Obama 48.81, Romney 48.43In 2016, Trump 47.6, Clinton 44.8.The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Clallam was one of only 19 counties nationwide that had correctly picked the presidential winner dating back to 1980."It's amazing to me, but it's understandable in a way because we have a few extremes here like everyone else, but people do think and talk and read and they stay involved with politics," said Liz Baumgartner, Chair of the Clallam County Democrats. "They don't just cut it out. And I think that's one of the reasons why it's a bellwether place."The county shares some similarities with those others around the country: higher-than-average unemployment rate, incomes below the median, with an older, less diverse population. &nbsp;Clallam County has a mix of timber, farm, and maritime industrial jobs, with retirees especially in the eastern part of the county and others who are drawn to the magic of the Olympic mountains.RELATED:"I think that we are probably very close to being a middle America-type enclave here," said Pilling.&nbsp;Current Clallam County Republican chair Sue Forde said, "The Republican party has become more of a working man's party. So and they're seeing that, that we care about, you know, jobs and the working guy."So who wins this time around? Right now, there is no local polling to suggest which way the winds are blowing.But back during the presidential primary in March, before the , more voters cast a ballot in the Democratic presidential primary than the Republican side.According to the Secretary of State's office, 18,644 Clallam County residents voted Democrat and 12,296 residents voted Republican. A cynic would say that's because there were more candidates involved in the Democratic primary, and that's what perhaps spurred the totals.Baumgartner hopes it's a sign of things to come."I think there's a strong bunch of people who are just fed up," said Baumgartner.&nbsp;We'll find out soon if the county will keep up its streak of voting for the presidential winner.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Nov. 3, watch NBC coverage of the 2020 election on KING 5 from 4-11 p.m. to follow national election results and analysis.Tune in to western Washington election coverage from 8-11 p.m. on KONG and 11 p.m. to midnight on KING 5. Local coverage will also stream live on and the .Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.No ThanksAllow

Breaking NewsThe county is one of 19 nationwide to have a perfect presidential win streak since Ronald Reagan.10:56 PM PST November 1, 2020CLALLAM COUNTY, Wash. — There must be something in the water on the Olympic Peninsula since voters in Clallam County have voted for the presidential winner every four years since 1980, which is the last 10 straight elections.As Clallam County goes, so goes the country."Well, I guess we're just smart," said Dick Pilling, laughing at this unusual election oddity. Pilling is a Port Angeles real estate agent and former chair of the Clallam County...

Clallam County continues its streak of picking every presidential winner since 1980

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS