Butte County is a Republican stronghold. About 19% of voters here vote Democratic and 81% Republican.
About 70% of adults in Butte County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Butte County, ~13% vote Democratic, ~57% Republican, and ~30% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Butte County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Butte County leans more Republican than 3 of 4 neighbors.
Butte County runs about 33 points more Republican than South Dakota as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Butte County. The northwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+83) and the west side is the least Republican-leaning (R+55), a spread of about 29 points.
Why Butte County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Butte County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Preventive-care access and voter turnout
Places with strong routine preventive-care access tend to turn out at a higher rate; Butte County, SD sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Dental visits do not drive turnout; the rate reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access, which line up with who votes.
Why turnout in Butte County looks the way it does
Turnout in Butte County sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Lawrence County, SD R+37
- Meade County, SD R+51
- Crook County, WY R+78
- Pennington County, SD R+28
- Weston County, WY R+68
- Custer County, SD R+53
- Harding County, SD R+88
- Carter County, MT R+78
- Fall River County, SD R+52
- Campbell County, WY R+65
Counties with Similar Populations
- Clay County, TX R+74
- Johnston County, OK R+65
- Nemaha County, KS R+64
- Chicot County, AR D+3
- Roberts County, SD R+19
- Noxubee County, MS D+49
- Metcalfe County, KY R+65
- Lowndes County, AL D+35
- Pike County, AR R+69
- Alcona County, MI R+36
All Local Stats
Home Services
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from South Dakota Secretary of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.