Political party loyalty of United States counties
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In the United States, 15 counties or county equivalents have never voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in their history, while 5 have never voted for the Republican nominee.[1] In recent decades, the number of electorally competitive counties has decreased, with most counties now consistently favoring one political party over the other.[2]
Records
Highest party loyalty
Six counties or county equivalents have voted Republican for president in every election since they came into existence: Doniphan County, Kansas (since 1864); Leslie County, Kentucky (since 1880); Colonial Heights, Virginia (since 1952); Poquoson, Virginia (since 1976); Chugach Census Area, Alaska (since 2020); and Copper River Census Area, Alaska (since 2020). Nine other counties have never voted Democratic but have voted for a third-party candidate, specifically former Republican president Teddy Roosevelt in 1912.[a][1]
Twenty-five counties have voted Republican in every election since the end of the Civil War, however, they voted Democratic at least once prior to 1864. Most of these counties also supported Roosevelt in 1912.[b][1]
Five counties or county equivalents have always voted Democratic for president – Brooks County, Texas (since 1912); Jim Hogg County, Texas (since 1916); Menominee County, Wisconsin (since 1964); the District of Columbia (since 1964); and Kalawao County, Hawaii.[c][1]
Longest unbroken streak
Gasconade County, Missouri, holds the longest Republican voting streak, having voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 1860.
The longest Democratic voting streak in presidential elections is held by Elliott County, Kentucky, which voted Democratic in every year from 1872 to 2012, though it voted Republican in 2016.[4] The longest ongoing streak is currently held by Northampton County, North Carolina, which has voted Democratic in every election since 1900.[1] Starr County, Texas, voted Democratic between 1896 and 2020, but flipped Republican in 2024.[5]
List
The following list shows the last time each county voted for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominee as of the 2024 election.[1][6] Connecticut's historical counties listed were replaced as county equivalents in 2022 by planning regions.[7] Alaska does not report results by borough or census area, and the boundaries of these often change,[8] so estimates are shown based on current boundaries.[9]
- These are Lee County, Illinois, Edwards County, Illinois, Butler County, Kentucky, Clay County, Kentucky, Monroe County, Kentucky, Owsley County, Kentucky, Ottawa County, Michigan, Sanilac County, Michigan, Wilkes County, North Carolina, Morgan County, West Virginia, Union County, Pennsylvania, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, Blount County, Tennessee, Carter County, Tennessee, Cocke County, Tennessee, Grainger County, Tennessee, Hancock County, Tennessee, Jefferson County, Tennessee, Scott County, Tennessee, Sevier County, Tennessee, Washington County, Tennessee, Gasconade County, Missouri, Ozark County, Missouri, Putnam County, Missouri, and Taney County, Missouri.
- Kalawao County elections are run by Maui County and it does not report results separately.[3] While precinct-level data is available, the first year that residents of Kalawao County voted is unclear.
- The Democratic and Republican nominees were tied in the county in 1992.
- The Democratic and Republican nominees were tied in the county in 1976.
- Won by Southern Democratic nominee John C. Breckinridge.
- The Democratic and Republican nominees were tied in the county in 1980.