If you’ve ever driven from the rain-slicked streets of Portland to the high desert of Baker City, you know Oregon isn’t just one place. It’s two different worlds tied together by a single border. When people ask is Oregon a red or blue state 2024, the answer depends entirely on whether you’re looking at a map of people or a map of land.
Honestly, the 2024 election results didn't shock anyone who has lived here for more than five minutes. Kamala Harris carried the state with about 55% of the vote, while Donald Trump pulled in roughly 41%. On paper, that’s a "safe blue" margin. It’s the kind of number that makes national pundits check Oregon off their list by 8:01 PM on election night. But if you look at the county-by-county breakdown, the state looks like a sea of bright crimson with a few deep indigo islands.
The Blue Strongholds and the "Red Wave" That Wasn't
Oregon has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every single election since 1988. That’s a long streak. In 2024, the state stayed true to form, though there was a slight rightward tilt compared to 2020. Joe Biden won the state by about 16 points four years ago; Harris won it by roughly 14.
The heavy lifting for the Democrats always happens in the Willamette Valley. Multnomah County (home to Portland) is the powerhouse, often delivering margins so lopsided they drown out the rest of the state. In 2024, Harris took about 79% of the vote there. Washington and Clackamas counties—the suburbs—also stayed blue, though Clackamas is always a bit more of a toss-up than its neighbors.
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Outside the valley, the story changes fast.
In eastern and southern Oregon, the "red" isn't just a preference; it’s an identity. Counties like Lake, Grant, and Baker saw Trump winning with over 70% of the vote. For these residents, the state's "blue" status feels like something imposed on them by a distant, urban government.
Why Oregon Stays Blue (For Now)
It basically comes down to math.
The Portland metro area holds nearly half the state’s population. You’ve also got Eugene (Lane County) and Corvallis (Benton County), which are classic college towns that reliably pump out Democratic votes. Even Bend, over in Deschutes County, has shifted. It used to be a Republican bastion, but a massive influx of remote workers and retirees from California and Seattle has turned it into a blue-leaning hub. In 2024, Deschutes County went for Harris by about 10 points.
Voter registration tells a similar story, but with a twist. As of late 2024, there are actually more "non-affiliated" voters in Oregon than there are registered Democrats or Republicans.
- Non-affiliated: ~36%
- Democrats: ~32%
- Republicans: ~24%
While the "unaffiliated" group is the largest, historical data from the Secretary of State’s office shows that most of these voters lean left when it’s time to actually mail in a ballot. Oregon’s automatic voter registration through the DMV—often called "Motor Voter"—tends to pad these numbers.
The 2024 Down-Ballot Reality
To really answer is Oregon a red or blue state 2024, you have to look past the top of the ticket. The state didn't just vote for a President; it filled key seats that actually run the place.
Democrats swept the big statewide offices:
- Secretary of State: Tobias Read beat Republican Dennis Linthicum.
- State Treasurer: Elizabeth Steiner won her race.
- Attorney General: Dan Rayfield took the win.
However, these wins weren't exactly landslides. In the Treasurer race, for example, Steiner won by about 5 or 6 points. That’s a healthy margin, sure, but it’s a far cry from the 30-point blowouts you see in deep-blue states like Maryland or Massachusetts.
The most interesting drama happened in the 5th Congressional District. This is the "bridge" district that stretches from the Portland suburbs over the mountains to Bend. Janelle Bynum (D) managed to unseat the Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer in a race that was incredibly tight. This win was a huge deal for Democrats, proving they can still win in "purple" territory if the candidate is right.
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Is the "Greater Idaho" Movement a Real Threat?
You can't talk about Oregon politics in 2024 without mentioning the elephant in the room: the movement to move the border and join Idaho.
Several eastern Oregon counties have passed local measures to discuss seceding from Oregon. The logic? They feel the "blue" policies coming out of Salem—like strict environmental regulations and drug decriminalization experiments—don't represent rural life.
Is it going to happen? Almost certainly not. It would require approval from both state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. But the fact that people are even voting on it shows how deep the divide is. Oregon isn't a "blue" state so much as it is a state with a very loud, very powerful blue engine and a red body that feels like it’s being dragged along.
Understanding the Policy Shifts
Oregon voters also showed some "purple" tendencies on ballot measures this year. For instance, Measure 117, which would have brought ranked-choice voting to statewide elections, got shot down. Voters also rejected Measure 118, a controversial proposal to tax big corporations and give a "rebate" check to every resident.
This suggests that while Oregonians like Democratic candidates, they aren't necessarily sold on every "progressive" policy that hits the ballot. There is a streak of western libertarianism here that doesn't always align with the national Democratic platform.
What This Means for the Future
So, is Oregon a red or blue state 2024? It’s blue, but the shade is changing.
The urban-rural divide is wider than ever. The state is safe for Democrats at the presidential level, but the "middle" is getting more competitive. If you’re a Republican, there’s hope in the suburban "doughnut" around Portland. If you’re a Democrat, you’re looking at the growing tech hubs in the high desert to keep your margins safe.
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Actionable Insights for Following Oregon Politics:
- Watch the "Motor Voter" Data: Keep an eye on how many new unaffiliated voters are added each month. They are the true wildcard in 2026.
- Monitor the 5th District: This remains the most accurate "thermometer" for the state's political health.
- Check Local Measure Results: Often, the most telling data comes from how counties vote on taxes and land use, not just which person they pick for office.
The 2024 cycle proved that Oregon is still a stronghold for the left, but it’s a stronghold that requires constant maintenance. The "red" parts of the state aren't going anywhere, and they’re getting more organized.