2020 Worcester Turnout Hits High, But Voters Buck Blue Trend

WORCESTER, MA — In 2020, Worcester voters turned out at a higher rate than in any recent presidential election — and a larger share broke for the Republican candidate, which goes against a trend in most other Massachusetts communities away from President Donald Trump.

Voter turnout hit 64 percent in 2020, only the second time turnout has been above 60 percent since the 2004 race between John Kerry and George W. Bush, according to voting data.

Joe Biden won Worcester with about 67.5 percent of the vote, about 2-1/2 points better than Hillary Clinton's performance in 2016. But Trump did even better, improving his share of the vote by 2.78 points. The incumbent president took 29.5 percent of Worcester' total vote in 2020.

That's actually the third-highest share a GOP candidate has earned in Worcester since 2004. George W. Bush earned 31 percent in 2004, and John McCain earned just under 30 percent in 2008.

A MassINC map of voting swings between 2016 and 2020 revealed that some of the only communities where Trump improved in Massachusetts were larger cities like Worcester. Boston, Springfield, Fall River, Holyoke, Fitchburg, Lawrence and Lowell all saw higher returns for Trump in this election, according to the MassINC map.

Here's a look at how the vote in Worcester has changed since the 2004 presidential election:

Overall voter turnout

• 2020 — 63.95% (1)
• 2016 — 63.47% (2)
• 2012 — 59.47%
• 2008 — 59.94% (3)
• 2004 — 56.95%

Democrat vs. Republican share

• 2020
  • Democrat — 67.46% Biden
  • Republican — 29.52% Trump
• 2016
  • Democrat — 64.98% Clinton
  • Republican — 26.74% Trump
• 2012
  • Democrat — 68.40% Obama
  • Republican — 29.09% Romney
• 2008
  • Democrat — 66.90% Obama
  • Republican — 29.89% McCain
• 2004
  • Democrat — 67.19% Kerry
  • Republican — 30.99% Bush

Data from Secretary of State historic registration statistics, PD43+ database.