Asheville, NC
Leans Democratic — shifted 3.3pp toward Democrats in 2024 — 415K residents — 3 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 81.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 9.6% |
▶Black / African American(12) | 4.1% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.1% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8) | 0.3% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.5% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.1% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.7% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 31.9% | 63.1% |
| Catholic | 7.9% | 15.7% |
| Mainline Protestant | 6.9% | 13.8% |
| Other | 2.3% | 4.6% |
| Black Protestant | 1.3% | 2.6% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Orthodox Christian | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Non-religious | 49.5% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Harris+10.8 |
| 2020 | Biden+7.5 |
| 2016 | Clinton+0.4 |
| 2012 | Obama+0.3 |
| 2008 | Obama+3.3 |
| 2004 | Bush+9.2 |
| 2000 | Bush+16.5 |
| 1996 | Dole+6.6 |
| 1992 | Bush+2.9 |
Asheville, NC is a metro area that has a population of 414,711. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Democratic with a margin of D+10.8. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54.5% | 43.7% | D+10.8 | D+3.3 |
| 2020 | 52.9% | 45.4% | D+7.5 | D+7.1 |
| 2016 | 47.6% | 47.2% | D+0.4 | D+0.1 |
| 2012 | 49.3% | 48.9% | D+0.3 | R+3.0 |
| 2008 | 51.0% | 47.7% | D+3.3 | D+12.6 |
| 2004 | 45.1% | 54.3% | R+9.2 | D+7.3 |
| 2000 | 41.2% | 57.7% | R+16.5 | R+9.9 |
| 1996 | 41.9% | 48.6% | R+6.6 | R+3.7 |
| 1992 | 40.9% | 43.8% | R+2.9 | D+17.9 |
| 1988 | 39.5% | 60.2% | R+20.7 | D+8.0 |
| 1984 | 35.5% | 64.2% | R+28.7 | R+20.5 |
| 1980 | 43.6% | 51.8% | R+8.2 | R+11.6 |
| 1976 | 51.4% | 48.0% | D+3.3 | D+48.9 |
| 1972 | 26.3% | 71.9% | R+45.6 | R+26.2 |
| 1968 | 28.3% | 47.7% | R+19.4 | R+33.1 |
| 1964 | 56.9% | 43.1% | D+13.7 | D+28.0 |
| 1960 | 42.8% | 57.2% | R+14.3 | D+0.7 |
| 1956 | 42.5% | 57.5% | R+15.0 | R+3.1 |
| 1952 | 44.1% | 55.9% | R+11.9 | R+18.7 |
| 1948 | 49.4% | 42.5% | D+6.8 | — |
What defines Asheville, NC?
Asheville, NC has been won by both parties in the last 6 presidential elections (5D, 1R) — a genuine swing geography. It has a highly educated electorate (43% college-educated) — a demographic increasingly aligned with Democrats nationwide.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Asheville, NC
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Democratic in the last 5 presidential elections
- The 2012 election was decided by just 0.3 points — razor-thin
- Won by both parties in recent history — Democrats most recently in 2024, Republicans in 2004
Who Lives Here
| Group | Asheville, NC | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 81.0% | 57.4% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 9.6% | 19.3% |
▶Black / African American(12) | 4.1% | 12.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.7% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.1% | 6.0% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.5% | 0.9% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8) | 0.3% | 0.9% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -52.0pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.9% | 63.1% | — | — | |
| 7.9% | 15.7% | — | — | |
| 6.9% | 13.8% | — | — | |
| 2.3% | 4.6% | — | — | |
| 1.3% | 2.6% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.6% | 1.3% | — | — |
| 0.1% | 0.3% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 49.5% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Asheville, NC metro area? 414,711 residents across 3 counties.
Demographics
43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 10pp above the national average. Places with similar education levels vote D+16 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
Turnout in Asheville, NC
How competitive is Asheville, NC?
Do voters in Asheville, NC split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Governor | D+10.8 | D+27.0 | 16.2pp |