Gilmer County leans heavily Republican by roughly 40 points: about 30% of voters vote Democratic and 70% Republican.
About 59% of adults in Gilmer County typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Gilmer County, ~18% vote Democratic, ~41% Republican, and ~41% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Gilmer County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Gilmer County is the least Republican-leaning.
Politically, Gilmer County sits close to the rest of West Virginia.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Gilmer County. The east side runs the most Democratic (D+2) and the southeast side runs the most Republican (R+67), a spread of about 69 points.
Why Gilmer County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Gilmer County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; Gilmer County, WV sits in the bottom tenth nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in Gilmer County looks the way it does
Areas with low high-school completion turn out at lower rates. About 85% of adults in Gilmer County have completed high school, below 78% of counties. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Calhoun County, WV R+65
- Braxton County, WV R+57
- Lewis County, WV R+57
- Ritchie County, WV R+68
- Doddridge County, WV R+69
- Roane County, WV R+60
- Wirt County, WV R+65
- Upshur County, WV R+55
- Clay County, WV R+63
- Harrison County, WV R+41
Counties with Similar Populations
- Chariton County, MO R+61
- Lee County, KY R+67
- Wallowa County, OR R+20
- Hutchinson County, SD R+65
- Lake County, CO D+25
- Worth County, IA R+37
- Castro County, TX R+40
- East Carroll Parish, LA D+18
- Conejos County, CO R+25
- Elliott County, KY R+57
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from West Virginia 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.