Columbia, MO
Competitive — 215K residents — 3 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 77.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(17) | 4.2% |
▶Black / African American(12) | 9.2% |
▶Asian(6) | 4.3% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(10) | 0.6% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.2% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.1% |
Multiracial / Other | 4.9% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 19.0% | 49.9% |
| Catholic | 7.0% | 18.4% |
| Mainline Protestant | 6.2% | 16.2% |
| Other | 4.1% | 10.7% |
| Black Protestant | 1.8% | 4.6% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 1.6% | 4.3% |
| Non-religious | 61.9% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Harris+2.4 |
| 2020 | Biden+5.0 |
| 2016 | Trump+0.8 |
| 2012 | Romney+1.4 |
| 2008 | Obama+7.8 |
| 2004 | Bush+4.2 |
| 2000 | Bush+2.2 |
| 1996 | Clinton+5.2 |
| 1992 | Clinton+10.7 |
Columbia, MO is a metro area that has a population of 215,014. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Democratic with a margin of D+2.4. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50.2% | 47.7% | D+2.4 | R+2.6 |
| 2020 | 51.2% | 46.2% | D+5.0 | D+5.8 |
| 2016 | 45.8% | 46.6% | R+0.8 | D+0.6 |
| 2012 | 48.0% | 49.4% | R+1.4 | R+9.2 |
| 2008 | 53.1% | 45.3% | D+7.8 | D+12.0 |
| 2004 | 47.5% | 51.7% | R+4.2 | R+2.0 |
| 2000 | 47.0% | 49.2% | R+2.2 | R+7.4 |
| 1996 | 47.4% | 42.2% | D+5.2 | R+5.5 |
| 1992 | 44.5% | 33.8% | D+10.7 | D+9.3 |
| 1988 | 50.5% | 49.2% | D+1.3 | D+18.8 |
| 1984 | 41.3% | 58.7% | R+17.4 | R+19.4 |
| 1980 | 46.7% | 44.8% | D+1.9 | R+1.9 |
| 1976 | 50.9% | 47.1% | D+3.8 | D+20.5 |
| 1972 | 41.6% | 58.4% | R+16.7 | R+14.2 |
| 1968 | 44.7% | 47.2% | R+2.5 | R+30.8 |
| 1964 | 64.1% | 35.9% | D+28.3 | D+24.2 |
| 1960 | 52.1% | 47.9% | D+4.1 | R+2.3 |
| 1956 | 53.2% | 46.8% | D+6.4 | R+0.5 |
| 1952 | 53.3% | 46.5% | D+6.8 | R+22.4 |
| 1948 | 64.3% | 35.0% | D+29.3 | — |
What defines Columbia, MO?
Columbia, MO has been won by both parties in the last 6 presidential elections (3D, 3R) — a genuine swing geography. It has a predominantly white, college-educated electorate that has shifted sharply toward Democrats in the Trump era.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Columbia, MO
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- The 2016 election was decided by just 0.8 points — razor-thin
- Split-ticket voting in 2024: Different parties won President and Governor
- Won by both parties in recent history — Democrats most recently in 2024, Republicans in 2016
Who Lives Here
| Group | Columbia, MO | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 77.2% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(12) | 9.2% | 12.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 4.9% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 4.3% | 6.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(17) | 4.2% | 19.3% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(10) | 0.6% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.2% | 0.9% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(2) | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -36.0pp (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.0% | 49.9% | — | — | |
| 7.0% | 18.4% | — | — | |
| 6.2% | 16.2% | — | — | |
| 4.1% | 10.7% | — | — | |
| 1.8% | 4.6% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 1.6% | 4.3% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 61.9% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Columbia, MO metro area? 215,014 residents across 3 counties.
Demographics
48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 15pp 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 Columbia, MO
How competitive is Columbia, MO?
Do voters in Columbia, MO split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | D+6.4 | R+3.0 | 9.4pp |
| President vs Governor | D+2.4 | R+3.0 | 5.4pp |
| President vs Senate | D+2.4 | D+6.4 | 3.9pp |