Election Results and Trends in Lakeland, FL
In the last Presidential election, Lakeland, FL voted predominantly Republican, with 56.7% of voters casting their ballot for Trump, while 42.3% of voters in Lakeland voted for Biden, and other parties voting 1.1%. Based on these voting patterns, Lakeland is considered a moderately conservative city. Specifically, it ranks 25th out of the most populated 333 cities in the United States in terms of conservatism based on the 2020 Presidential election results. Conversely, when looking at the liberal voting patterns in the 2020 election, Lakeland ranks 304th out of the 333 most populated cities, indicating a relatively low liberal vote.
Presidential Elections Voting Trend
Lakeland, Florida, has historically leaned conservative in its presidential election voting. Republicans have received the majority of the vote for candidates for the past 25 years, including Bob Dole (1996), George W. Bush (2000 and 2004), John McCain (2008), Mitt Romney (2012), and Donald Trump (2016 and 2020). The conservative trend aligns with Polk County's general voting pattern, with Democrats rarely gaining substantial traction in presidential races within the city.
Local Elections
Local/City-level elections in Lakeland, Florida, have reflected a nonpartisan atmosphere, as many local offices don't run along strict party lines. However, the underlying trend has been more conservative, in line with the city's general political leaning. Policy decisions and governance often echo conservative principles such as fiscal responsibility, business-friendly regulation, and a focus on traditional values.