An analysis of Missouri election result maps shows a steady shift to Republicans, including smaller movement in urban Democratic strongholds.
At the same time, the suburbs where Democrats nationally have seen the biggest promise for growth offer a more mixed message.
In fact, the data show a steady shift toward the Republican Party in nearly every Missouri county since 2008 and narrower margins of support for passing minimum-wage increases.
The Beacon has created election maps of how Missourians in every county voted this year and how it relates to election patterns over the past two decades. We looked at 26 races, including all presidential and gubernatorial races since 2008, the 2018 auditor race and 15 ballot issues.
Here are some takeaways.
Where Missouri voters are turning to the Republican Party
- In 2008, John McCain defeated Barack Obama in Missouri by less than 4,000 votes. Since then, nearly every Missouri county has voted in larger numbers for the Republican candidate in each election.
- The most dramatic shift came in Washington County, southwest of St. Louis, which narrowly voted for Obama in 2008 but voted 82% for Donald Trump in 2024.
- The Democratic Party has lost ground in all four of Missouri’s biggest cities — Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia.
- Notably, Platte County and St. Louis County are the only two Missouri counties where the Democratic presidential nominee performed better in 2024 than in 2008. (Trump still won Platte County this year.)