Why is Cole county, MO so republican?

[iceman]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

[Oryxslayer]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

[lfromnj]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Well Boise is different because its still more blue than the state as a whole.

[Tartarus Sauce]

Jefferson City is one of the least exciting state capitals in the country. Very few civil servants actually live there, they either commute from St. Louis/Kansas City or are stationed and networked in nearby, much more hip and happening Columbia. It’s mostly a blue-collar, closed at sundown town where the local populace is detached from the state government presence and the state government is detached from them.

About the only institution that could theoretically cultivate a local Democratic party infrastructure is the historically black college located there.

[nclib]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

[Tartarus Sauce]

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

Jefferson City voted for Donald Trump by around 20 points. Carson City also voted for him.

[lfromnj]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

Also OKC is a pretty big city relative to the county its in.

[Oryxslayer]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

What I meant is that even though the county may be red, the city, or the city core in the case of a sprawling city like Phoenix, votes D or more D then it's surroundings in 49/50 cases. When the capital county votes GOP, it's because the rurals, suburbs, or incorporated land (aka Carson City since that is a city-county) outvotes the city and it's core. Jefferson City is the exception.

[nclib]

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but

Carson City is actually an independent city.

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

I should add Carson City to that list. I suppose this is due to the population and "Democraticness" is so concentrated in Clark and Washoe County, and Carson City is still less Repub than rural Nevada.

[Oryxslayer]

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but

Carson City is actually an independent city.

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

I should add Carson City to that list. I suppose this is due to the population and "Democraticness" is so concentrated in Clark and Washoe County, and Carson City is still less Repub than rural Nevada.

Since Carson City is a City-County, it incorporates what suburbs exist and rural territory. What would be called the city in common terms is very swingy, but still redder than the state. I guess it though is similar to Jefferson City in that all the Liberals prefer to live a bit away and commute in.

[I’m not Stu]

It's a rural county.

[Hope For A New Era]

Because Jefferson City is Republican. It has very little "state capital" atmosphere. The demographics that usually keep capitals Dem are spread out into Columbia and other areas, leaving Jeff unusually white and working-class. The city is almost totally irrelevant unless you work in government.

[It’s so Joever]

The “city” itself honestly is more of a small town than anything, and as mentioned earlier, neighboring Columbia sucks up most of the would-be Democratic voters, leaving just a few government workers and many more rural white voters. Plus, relative to the actual State, it’s a pretty small city.

[I’m not Stu]

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but

Carson City is actually an independent city.

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Do you mean Kentucky is the exception? Or Missouri?

Even though there are plenty of counties containing the capital city, that voted Repub, very few capital cities themselves vote Repub. IIRC, these are Oklahoma City, Cheyenne, Bismarck, Pierre. Even Charleston, WV voted for Hillary. All of those states are much more Republican than MO. Could it be that the KC/STL areas don't have much connection with rural Missouri (which is extremely Repub despite the overall state).

I should add Carson City to that list. I suppose this is due to the population and "Democraticness" is so concentrated in Clark and Washoe County, and Carson City is still less Repub than rural Nevada.

Since Carson City is a City-County, it incorporates what suburbs exist and rural territory. What would be called the city in common terms is very swingy, but still redder than the state. I guess it though is similar to Jefferson City in that all the Liberals prefer to live a bit away and commute in.

Carson City isn’t a consolidated city-county. It isn’t part of any county at all.

[Dr. MB]

It is understood that counties with the capital cities are very much democratic, this one stands out. Why?

Not all county capitals are in Blue counties. Carson City and Boise for instance are in red turf, but in 49 of the 50 states, the capital city still has the familiar blue core. It's just that in a few states the suburbs or rural area incorporated in the county outvotes the city, which itself sometimes small like in Kentucky.

Missouri though still is unique even on the granular view. Cole county only has 7 small blue precincts, most which are marginal. This is still bluer than the average MO county, Galloway carried it when she won in 2018, but it's still far far redder than the average capital city.

This isn't an answer, it's just expanding upon the question.

Bismarck, ND, Pierre, SD, and Cheyenne, WY don't really have much of a blue area either.

[lfromnj]

Springfields county is also quite a bit Republican at Trump +9 but if you exclude the Chicago metropolitan area its like 6 points to the left of the state.(which is a big IF)

[MarkD]

There was a time, in the 1990s, when Cole was split into two equal halves, down the middle, with Jefferson City likewise split in half, by State Representative District lines. The eastern half of Jeff City and Cole County was electing Democrat W.W. (Bill) Gratz to the House while the western half of the city and the county was electing Republican Carl Vogel to the House. I don't remember when each of them was first elected, but they were re-elected in 1996, in 1998, and 2000. Then they ran against each other for State Senator in 2002 with Vogel winning that contest. In '96, '98, and '00, Gratz did not even have a Republican opponent.