Decatur, AL
Safe Republican — shifted 4.2pp toward Republicans in 2024 — 158K residents — 2 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 72.9% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 9.0% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 12.3% |
▶Asian(5) | 0.6% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(5) | 0.1% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(4) | 1.4% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(1) | 0.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.7% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 53.8% | 78.4% |
| Mainline Protestant | 5.0% | 7.2% |
| Catholic | 4.6% | 6.7% |
| Black Protestant | 4.0% | 5.8% |
| Other | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Non-religious | 31.4% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Trump+54.7 |
| 2020 | Trump+50.4 |
| 2016 | Trump+51.7 |
| 2012 | Romney+40.5 |
| 2008 | McCain+40.2 |
| 2004 | Bush+32.7 |
| 2000 | Bush+16.6 |
| 1996 | Dole+11.5 |
| 1992 | Bush+5.7 |
Decatur, AL is a metro area that has a population of 157,747. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Republican with a margin of R+54.7. Akashic Edge tracks 40 presidential elections here, dating back to 1868.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22.1% | 76.8% | R+54.7 | R+4.2 |
| 2020 | 24.1% | 74.5% | R+50.4 | D+1.3 |
| 2016 | 23.0% | 74.8% | R+51.7 | R+11.3 |
| 2012 | 29.1% | 69.6% | R+40.5 | R+0.3 |
| 2008 | 29.2% | 69.4% | R+40.2 | R+7.6 |
| 2004 | 33.3% | 65.9% | R+32.7 | R+16.1 |
| 2000 | 40.7% | 57.3% | R+16.6 | R+5.0 |
| 1996 | 39.6% | 51.2% | R+11.5 | R+5.8 |
| 1992 | 38.6% | 44.4% | R+5.7 | D+12.9 |
| 1988 | 40.3% | 59.0% | R+18.7 | D+9.1 |
| 1984 | 35.8% | 63.6% | R+27.8 | R+41.3 |
| 1980 | 54.8% | 41.2% | D+13.5 | R+24.1 |
| 1976 | 68.2% | 30.6% | D+37.6 | D+92.4 |
| 1972 | 21.8% | 76.6% | R+54.8 | R+119.8 |
| 1968 | 77.6% | 12.6% | D+65.0 | D+75.3 |
| 1964 | 44.9% | 55.1% | R+10.3 | R+40.8 |
| 1960 | 65.2% | 34.6% | D+30.5 | R+12.4 |
| 1956 | 70.6% | 27.7% | D+42.9 | R+8.0 |
| 1952 | 75.4% | 24.5% | D+50.9 | D+12.4 |
| 1948 | 46.0% | 7.6% | D+38.4 | — |
What defines Decatur, AL?
It has a working-class electorate (22% college-educated) — a demographic increasingly aligned with Republicans nationwide.
Constituent Counties
Similar metro areas
Counties in Decatur, AL
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Republican in the last 5 presidential elections
- Latest election (2024) was a Republican landslide with a 54.7% margin
- College attainment is 22% — 11pp below the national average. Similar education levels correlate with Republican lean nationally
Who Lives Here
| Group | Decatur, AL | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 72.9% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 12.3% | 12.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(13) | 9.0% | 19.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.7% | 4.0% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(4) | 1.4% | 0.9% |
▶Asian(5) | 0.6% | 6.0% |
▶Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander(1) | 0.2% | 0.2% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(5) | 0.1% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -76.2pp (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53.8% | 78.4% | — | — | |
| 5.0% | 7.2% | — | — | |
| 4.6% | 6.7% | — | — | |
| 4.0% | 5.8% | — | — | |
| 1.2% | 1.8% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.4% | 0.5% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 31.4% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Decatur, AL metro area? 157,747 residents across 2 counties.
Demographics
22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 11pp 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 Decatur, AL
How competitive is Decatur, AL?
Do voters in Decatur, AL split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | R+60.9 | R+63.0 | 2.1pp |