Columbus, NE
Safe Republican — 45K residents — 2 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 66.1% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 29.4% |
▶Black / African American(6) | 1.6% |
▶Asian(3) | 0.2% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(3) | 1.7% |
Multiracial / Other | 0.9% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 43.7% | 62.9% |
| Evangelical Protestant | 15.6% | 22.5% |
| Mainline Protestant | 8.4% | 12.1% |
| Other | 1.8% | 2.6% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Non-religious | 30.5% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+57.0 |
| 2020 | Trump+54.2 |
| 2016 | Trump+54.6 |
| 2012 | Romney+48.3 |
| 2008 | McCain+38.9 |
| 2004 | Bush+57.2 |
| 2000 | Bush+53.9 |
| 1996 | Dole+36.6 |
| 1992 | Bush+34.5 |
Columbus, NE is a metro area that has a population of 45,357. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+57.0. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21.0% | 78.0% | R+57.0 | R+2.8 |
| 2020 | 22.0% | 76.2% | R+54.2 | D+0.4 |
| 2016 | 19.9% | 74.4% | R+54.6 | R+6.2 |
| 2012 | 24.9% | 73.2% | R+48.3 | R+9.4 |
| 2008 | 29.6% | 68.5% | R+38.9 | D+18.2 |
| 2004 | 20.7% | 77.9% | R+57.2 | R+3.2 |
| 2000 | 21.5% | 75.4% | R+53.9 | R+17.4 |
| 1996 | 25.6% | 62.1% | R+36.6 | R+2.1 |
| 1992 | 19.1% | 53.6% | R+34.5 | D+5.7 |
| 1988 | 29.6% | 69.8% | R+40.1 | D+21.6 |
| 1984 | 18.7% | 80.5% | R+61.7 | R+8.3 |
| 1980 | 20.0% | 73.4% | R+53.4 | R+25.9 |
| 1976 | 35.0% | 62.6% | R+27.6 | D+18.3 |
| 1972 | 27.1% | 72.9% | R+45.8 | R+14.2 |
| 1968 | 30.0% | 61.7% | R+31.7 | R+36.6 |
| 1964 | 52.5% | 47.5% | D+4.9 | D+20.1 |
| 1960 | 42.4% | 57.6% | R+15.1 | D+20.7 |
| 1956 | 32.1% | 67.9% | R+35.8 | D+6.1 |
| 1952 | 29.0% | 71.0% | R+41.9 | R+37.1 |
| 1948 | 47.6% | 52.4% | R+4.8 | — |
What defines Columbus, NE?
It has a working-class electorate (21% college-educated) — a demographic increasingly aligned with Republicans nationwide.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Columbus, NE
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Republican in the last 5 presidential elections
- Latest election (2024) was a Republican landslide with a 57.0% margin
- College attainment is 21% — 12pp below the national average. Similar education levels correlate with Republican lean nationally
Who Lives Here
| Group | Columbus, NE | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 66.1% | 57.4% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 29.4% | 19.3% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(3) | 1.7% | 0.9% |
▶Black / African American(6) | 1.6% | 12.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 0.9% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(3) | 0.2% | 6.0% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: +35.9pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Catholic-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Democratic-leaning urban and suburban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.7% | 62.9% | — | — | |
| 15.6% | 22.5% | — | — | |
| 8.4% | 12.1% | — | — | |
| 1.8% | 2.6% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.8% | 1.1% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 30.5% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Columbus, NE metro area? 45,357 residents across 2 counties.
Demographics
21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 12pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+15 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, NE
How competitive is Columbus, NE?
Do voters in Columbus, NE split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | R+57.0 | R+62.2 | 5.3pp |