Sterling Heights, MI Politics: Is It Liberal or Conservative?

Election Results and Trends in Sterling Heights, MI

In the last Presidential election, Sterling Heights, MI voted predominantly Republican, with 53.4% of voters casting their ballot for Trump, while 45.3% of voters in Sterling Heights voted for Biden, and other parties voting 1.3%. Based on these voting patterns, Sterling Heights is considered a slightly leaning conservative city. Specifically, it ranks 45th 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, Sterling Heights ranks 283rd out of the 333 most populated cities, indicating a relatively low liberal vote.

Presidential Elections Voting Trend

The last six Presidential election results (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) for Sterling Heights, MI are: D R D D R R

In Sterling Heights, the trend of conservative vs. liberal voting in Presidential elections over the past 25 years has been somewhat mixed. Voters supported the Republican candidates Bob Dole (1996), George W. Bush (2000 and 2004), and Mitt Romney in 2012. However, the city leaned Democrat by supporting Barack Obama (2008) and Hillary Clinton (2016.) In 2020, Sterling Heights narrowly favored Donald Trump. This complex pattern points to a battleground city, reflecting statewide trends with shifting preferences influenced by candidates and issues.

Local Elections

City-level elections in Sterling Heights are typically nonpartisan, and the focus is often on local issues rather than national ideologies. Over the past 25 years, the trend has been toward electing leaders prioritizing community development, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. However, undercurrents of conservative and liberal ideologies can be observed, depending on the candidates and their stances on various municipal matters.