Columbus, MS
Competitive — shifted 6.0pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 68K residents — 2 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 45.5% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(10) | 2.0% |
▶Black / African American(5) | 48.1% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1) | 0.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.1% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 43.1% | 53.9% |
| Black Protestant | 26.5% | 33.1% |
| Mainline Protestant | 7.6% | 9.5% |
| Catholic | 1.7% | 2.2% |
| Other | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| Non-religious | 20.0% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Harris+0.4 |
| 2020 | Biden+6.4 |
| 2016 | Clinton+5.4 |
| 2012 | Obama+10.4 |
| 2008 | Obama+8.0 |
| 2004 | Bush+2.2 |
| 2000 | Bush+8.3 |
| 1996 | Dole+7.0 |
| 1992 | Bush+10.0 |
Columbus, MS is a metro area that has a population of 67,863. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Democratic with a margin of D+0.4. Akashic Edge tracks 39 presidential elections here, dating back to 1872.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49.7% | 49.3% | D+0.4 | R+6.0 |
| 2020 | 52.5% | 46.1% | D+6.4 | D+1.0 |
| 2016 | 51.7% | 46.3% | D+5.4 | R+4.9 |
| 2012 | 54.8% | 44.4% | D+10.4 | D+2.4 |
| 2008 | 53.6% | 45.6% | D+8.0 | D+10.2 |
| 2004 | 48.6% | 50.8% | R+2.2 | D+6.2 |
| 2000 | 45.2% | 53.5% | R+8.3 | R+1.3 |
| 1996 | 43.9% | 50.9% | R+7.0 | D+3.0 |
| 1992 | 40.8% | 50.8% | R+10.0 | D+10.1 |
| 1988 | 39.7% | 59.8% | R+20.1 | D+2.1 |
| 1984 | 38.6% | 60.8% | R+22.1 | R+11.5 |
| 1980 | 43.9% | 54.5% | R+10.6 | R+2.3 |
| 1976 | 44.1% | 52.4% | R+8.3 | D+46.5 |
| 1972 | 21.3% | 76.1% | R+54.8 | R+64.5 |
| 1968 | 24.6% | 15.0% | D+9.6 | D+95.8 |
| 1964 | 6.9% | 93.1% | R+86.2 | R+72.6 |
| 1960 | 24.6% | 38.1% | R+13.5 | R+41.7 |
| 1956 | 55.0% | 26.8% | D+28.2 | D+48.1 |
| 1952 | 40.0% | 60.0% | R+19.9 | R+22.5 |
| 1948 | 4.7% | 2.0% | D+2.6 | — |
What defines Columbus, MS?
Columbus, MS has been won by both parties in the last 6 presidential elections (5D, 1R) — a genuine swing geography. It has a plurality-minority electorate (54% nonwhite) where demographic change is reshaping the political map.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Columbus, MS
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Democratic in the last 5 presidential elections
- The 2024 election was decided by just 0.4 points — razor-thin
- Split-ticket voting in 2024: Different parties won President and Senate
Who Lives Here
| Group | Columbus, MS | National |
|---|---|---|
▶Black / African American(5) | 48.1% | 12.2% |
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 45.5% | 57.4% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.1% | 4.0% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(10) | 2.0% | 19.3% |
▶Asian(6) | 0.9% | 6.0% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1) | 0.2% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -56.2pp (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.1% | 53.9% | — | — | |
| 26.5% | 33.1% | — | — | |
| 7.6% | 9.5% | — | — | |
| 1.7% | 2.2% | — | — | |
| 1.1% | 1.3% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.7% | 0.9% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 20.0% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Columbus, MS metro area? 67,863 residents across 2 counties.
Demographics
26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 7pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+3 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 Columbus, MS
How competitive is Columbus, MS?
Do voters in Columbus, MS split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | D+0.4 | R+4.2 | 4.6pp |