See how North Jersey towns voted in 2016, 2020 elections with our interactive maps
New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation, but it typically leans Democrat in presidential elections.
But take a peek at North Jersey, with its rural farmland and towns to the far western corner with just a handful of residents — looking at you Walpack — and bustling cities to the east, with exploding populations in Newark and Paterson, and the state's diversity is stark. So unsurprisingly, so is the political landscape.
NorthJersey.com analyzed years worth of data from presidential elections dating back to 2004, when town-by-town data from the state started to become readily available online, but paid particular attention to the last two elections and how North Jersey residents voted.
In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won the majority vote in the Garden State, receiving 2.6 million votes over Republican Donald Trump's 1.9 million. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton captured 2.2 million votes from New Jersey residents, with Trump receiving 1.6 million.
More: Our guide to New Jersey's 2024 elections for federal, local and school races
Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, overall as a whole, have opted for Democratic candidates, but by no means does each and every unique county and town vote the same. In fact, Sussex County has firmly established itself as a Republican stronghold, with not a single one of the 24 municipalities over several presidential elections voting for the Democratic candidate as a majority.
Some municipalities flipped from Republican in 2016 to Democrat in 2020. Others stayed strong on their political parties. So as the Nov. 5 election nears, let's take a look at the data below.
Can't see the 2020 map? Click here.
Can't see the 2016 map? Click here.
Democrat or Republican? How did your county vote in 2020 and 2016?
Residents in Essex County have in the last two presidential elections voted unwaveringly for the Democratic nominee, with Bergen and Passaic counties typically following suit, although there were 81,550 more Democratic votes than Republican votes in Bergen County in 2020, compared to 55,682 more Democratic votes than Republican in 2016.
Morris County residents leaned Democrat in the 2020 presidential election, casting 12,747 more votes for Biden over Trump — a change from the county's swing toward the Republican presidential candidate in 2016. Morris County residents favored Trump in 2016 over the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, with 10,822 more votes for Trump over Clinton that election year.
In Sussex County in 2020 and 2016, every town has had the majority vote Republican, although Newton was just nine votes shy of having a Democratic majority vote for Biden over Trump in 2020.
Story continues below photo gallery
In 2020, there were a total 870,246 votes cast for the Democratic presidential candidate (Biden) in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties and a total 564,736 votes for the Republican candidate (Trump).
In 2016, 728,268 residents in those five counties cast votes for the Democratic presidential candidate (Clinton), with 484,336 residents voting Republican (Trump).
Election news New Jersey voters feel 'negative emotion' ahead of election season, poll finds
2020 presidential election results in North Jersey counties
Total number of votes cast across North Jersey for Biden (D) and Trump (R): 1,434,982
Biden votes: 870,246
Trump votes: 564,736
Bergen County
Joseph R. Biden (D): 285,967
Donald J. Trump (R): 204,417
Essex County
Joseph R. Biden (D): 266,820
Donald J. Trump (R): 75,475
Morris County
Joseph R. Biden (D): 153,881
Donald J. Trump (R): 141,134
Passaic County
Joseph R. Biden (D): 129,097
Donald J. Trump (R): 92,009
Sussex County
Joseph R. Biden (D): 34,481
Donald J. Trump (R): 51,701
2016 presidential election results in North Jersey counties
Total number of votes cast across North Jersey for Clinton (D) and Trump (R): 1,212,604
Clinton votes: 728,268
Trump votes: 484,336
Bergen County
Hillary R. Clinton (D): 231,211
Donald J. Trump (R): 175,529
Essex County
Hillary R. Clinton (D): 240,837
Donald J. Trump (R): 63,176
Morris County
Hillary R. Clinton (D): 115,249
Donald J. Trump (R): 126,071
Passaic County
Hillary R. Clinton (D): 116,759
Donald J. Trump (R): 72,902
Sussex County
Hillary R. Clinton (D): 24,212
Donald J. Trump (R): 46,658
These North Jersey towns flipped from Republican to Democrat in 2020 presidential election
Most municipalities across North Jersey have consistently leaned Republican or Democrat during elections. Sussex County residents have continuously kept the county a Republican powerhouse, with every municipality voting for the Republican candidate during a presidential election since 2004, the first year the county and state posted town-by-town results. The only anomaly? There was a tie in 2008 in Andover Borough, with 138 votes cast for each candidate: Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.
While Sussex has been pretty consistent over the years — although Newton was close in 2020 — there were some towns in North Jersey that have done a little flip-flopping.
In 2020, Nutley Township residents in Essex County went for the Democratic candidate overall (Biden), a swap from the majority vote for the Republican candidate in 2016 (Trump) and the township's majority vote for the Democratic candidate in 2012, when Republican Mitt Romney challenged Obama as the commander in chief.
North Caldwell residents in Essex County also did a little flip-flopping. The majority vote was for the Democratic candidate in 2020 — by 236 votes — with overall votes cast in 2016 and 2012 for the Republican candidate.
In Mahwah in Bergen County, 53 more votes were cast for Biden over Trump in 2020, although Trump was the choice of the majority in 2016, earning 1,188 more votes over Clinton. The Republican candidate took home the most votes from Mahwah residents in 2012, besting Obama.
In Passaic County, Hawthorne had a majority vote for Biden over Trump in 2020, but went for Trump over Clinton in 2016.
In Morris County, Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough, Mount Olive, Mine Hill, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and Denville were among the municipalities that voted blue in 2020, but cast the most votes for Trump in 2016.
Email: lcomstock@njherald.com; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey towns and how they voted in presidential elections
