Pondera County leans heavily Republican by roughly 34 points: about 33% of voters vote Democratic and 67% Republican.
About 73% of adults in Pondera County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Pondera County, ~24% vote Democratic, ~49% Republican, and ~27% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Pondera County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Pondera County leans more Republican than 1 of 3 neighbors.
Pondera County runs about 15 points more Republican than Montana as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Pondera County. The northeast side is the most split-leaning (R+60) and the northwest side is the least split-leaning (Even), a spread of about 59 points.
Why Pondera County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Pondera County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Preventive-care access and voter turnout
Places with limited routine preventive-care access tend to turn out at a lower rate; Pondera County, MT sits below the national average 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 Pondera County looks the way it does
Turnout in Pondera 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
- Toole County, MT R+43
- Teton County, MT R+60
- Glacier County, MT D+32
- Liberty County, MT R+56
- Cascade County, MT R+25
- Chouteau County, MT R+24
- Flathead County, MT R+32
- Lake County, MT R+21
- Lewis and Clark County, MT R+7
- Hill County, MT R+23
Counties with Similar Populations
- Taylor County, IA R+50
- Chouteau County, MT R+24
- Cumberland County, KY R+67
- Essex County, VT R+31
- Crowley County, CO R+47
- Sherman County, KS R+66
- Ohio County, IN R+58
- Stanton County, NE R+64
- Sullivan County, PA R+50
- Benson County, ND D+2
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Montana 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.