Clay County is a Republican stronghold. About 22% of voters here vote Democratic and 78% Republican.
About 71% of adults in Clay County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Clay County, ~16% vote Democratic, ~55% Republican, and ~29% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Clay County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Clay County leans more Republican than 7 of 10 neighbors.
Clay County runs about 40 points more Republican than Kansas as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Clay County. The southwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+67) and the east side is the least Republican-leaning (R+50), a spread of about 18 points.
Why Clay County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Clay 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; Clay County, KS 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 Clay County looks the way it does
Areas with high high-school completion turn out at higher rates. About 94% of adults in Clay County have completed high school, above 81% of counties. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Geary County, KS R+16
- Riley County, KS D+4
- Washington County, KS R+67
- Cloud County, KS R+55
- Dickinson County, KS R+51
- Ottawa County, KS R+63
- Marshall County, KS R+53
- Pottawatomie County, KS R+46
- Republic County, KS R+62
- Saline County, KS R+26
Counties with Similar Populations
- Harrison County, MO R+64
- Baraga County, MI R+14
- Lake County, OR R+61
- San Miguel County, CO D+35
- Murray County, MN R+54
- Franklin City, VA D+32
- Clay County, WV R+63
- Schoolcraft County, MI R+28
- Allendale County, SC D+37
- Dawes County, NE R+39
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Kansas 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.