| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 3,334 | 6,771 | 10,291 | |
| 2020 | R | 3,710 | 6,413 | 10,336 | |
| 2016 | R | 3,500 | 6,030 | 10,226 | |
| 2012 | R | 4,219 | 5,651 | 10,126 | |
| 2008 | R | 5,735 | 5,891 | 11,871 | |
| 2004 | R | 4,938 | 6,367 | 11,404 | |
| 2000 | R | 4,101 | 6,050 | 10,552 | |
| 1996 | R | 4,441 | 4,656 | 10,397 | |
| 1992 | D | 4,232 | 4,141 | 10,640 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,571 | 5,721 | 9,334 | |
| 1984 | R | 3,119 | 6,430 | 9,549 | |
| 1980 | R | 3,507 | 5,513 | 9,522 | |
| 1976 | R | 3,684 | 5,249 | 9,133 | |
| 1972 | R | 2,286 | 6,157 | 8,443 | |
| 1968 | R | 2,645 | 4,624 | 7,861 | |
| 1964 | D | 4,235 | 3,573 | 7,808 | |
| 1960 | R | 3,160 | 5,469 | 8,629 | |
| 1956 | R | 3,418 | 5,322 | 8,740 | |
| 1952 | R | 3,339 | 5,748 | 9,120 | |
| 1948 | D | 4,136 | 4,024 | 8,201 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,606 | 4,909 | 8,541 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,813 | 5,688 | 10,566 | |
| 1936 | D | 5,315 | 4,685 | 10,127 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,623 | 2,991 | 7,760 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,841 | 5,538 | 8,429 | |
| 1924 | R | 2,800 | 4,383 | 8,183 | |
| 1920 | R | 2,534 | 4,861 | 7,878 | |
| 1916 | R | 2,275 | 2,681 | 5,247 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,784 | 1,427 | 4,893 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,992 | 2,514 | 4,893 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,687 | 2,791 | 4,832 | |
| 1900 | R | 2,180 | 2,673 | 5,052 | |
| 1896 | R | 2,311 | 2,402 | 4,744 | |
| 1892 | R | 1,039 | 1,953 | 3,902 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Kirksville's presence as home to Truman State University tempers but doesn't reverse Adair County's strong Republican lean, which widened to R+33.6 in 2024 despite the college-town demographic.
The Republican margin in Adair County reached its widest at forty-six points in 1972. The margin in 2024 was thirty-three points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Adair County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $61,536, a 88% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 25,301 together describe a community whose political habits are deeply settled. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Newaygo County and Lunenburg County.
