Howard County leans heavily Republican by roughly 48 points: about 26% of voters vote Democratic and 74% Republican.
About 72% of adults in Howard County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Howard County, ~19% vote Democratic, ~53% Republican, and ~28% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Howard County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Howard County leans more Republican than 6 of 14 neighbors.
Howard County runs about 29 points more Republican than Missouri as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Howard County. The northeast side is the most Republican-leaning (R+63) and the northwest side is the least Republican-leaning (R+47), a spread of about 16 points.
Why Howard County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Howard County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Frequent mental distress and voter turnout
Places with a low frequent-mental-distress rate tend to turn out at a higher rate; Howard County, MO sits in the bottom tenth nationally on this measure. Reported mental distress does not drive turnout; it reflects economic and health conditions tied to voting.
Why turnout in Howard County looks the way it does
Turnout in Howard County sits close to the national pattern. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Cooper County, MO R+46
- Randolph County, MO R+49
- Boone County, MO D+14
- Saline County, MO R+36
- Chariton County, MO R+61
- Moniteau County, MO R+60
- Pettis County, MO R+43
- Callaway County, MO R+43
- Carroll County, MO R+61
- Macon County, MO R+57
Counties with Similar Populations
- Love County, OK R+64
- Alcona County, MI R+36
- Pike County, AR R+69
- Holt County, NE R+69
- Chicot County, AR D+3
- Clay County, TX R+74
- Butte County, SD R+62
- Nome Census Area, AK D+23
- Marshall County, KS R+53
- Keokuk County, IA R+47
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Missouri 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.