Jefferson County leans heavily Republican by roughly 36 points: about 32% of voters vote Democratic and 68% Republican.
About 72% of adults in Jefferson County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Jefferson County, ~23% vote Democratic, ~49% Republican, and ~28% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Jefferson County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Jefferson County leans more Republican than 8 of 18 neighbors.
Jefferson County runs about 24 points more Republican than Ohio as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Jefferson County. The northwest side is the most split-leaning (R+61) and the east side is the least split-leaning (Even), a spread of about 61 points.
Why Jefferson County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Jefferson County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; Jefferson County, OH sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Paved ground does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban and built-up a place is.
Why turnout in Jefferson County looks the way it does
Turnout in Jefferson County sits close to the national pattern. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Brooke County, WV R+42
- Hancock County, WV R+42
- Harrison County, OH R+56
- Ohio County, WV R+20
- Belmont County, OH R+45
- Carroll County, OH R+55
- Columbiana County, OH R+45
- Beaver County, PA R+19
- Marshall County, WV R+50
- Washington County, PA R+24
Counties with Similar Populations
- Liberty County, GA D+16
- Clay County, MN R+3
- Lincoln County, SD R+29
- Chaves County, NM R+37
- Walker County, AL R+72
- Marion County, OH R+35
- Kershaw County, SC R+32
- Pulaski County, KY R+59
- Armstrong County, PA R+52
- Coos County, OR R+10
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Ohio 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.