Partisan success varies precinct-by-precinct in Columbia

Results from Tuesday’s election revealed strong partisan tendencies across the ballot in Columbia, with Democrats pulling support from precincts around MU and Republicans faring well in the southern part of town. The Missourian examined voting patterns for the presidential, gubernatorial and congressional races in 96 of 101 Boone County precincts. Data from five precincts were excluded because the Missourian has not been able to confirm the exact locations of these precincts with the county clerk. An analysis of election returns from the Boone County clerk’s office Web site focusing on Columbia precincts showed clusters of strong partisan support in both central and southern sectors of the city.

• Democratic candidates Jay Nixon, Judy Baker and Barack Obama all received at least 80 percent of all votes cast in four precincts around downtown Columbia and MU.
• Obama won close to 90 percent of all presidential votes cast at Oak Towers along North Garth Avenue.
• Republican candidates Kenny Hulshof, Blaine Luetkemeyer and John McCain consistently won more than 60 percent of votes cast in three precincts in the southern and southwestern parts of town.
• Nearly 70 percent of voters at one southwestern location voted for McCain, his strongest victory from any Columbia precinct. Although candidates scored lopsided victories in some areas, the race was much tighter in other precincts where the margin between votes cast for Republican and Democratic candidates was less than 2 percent.
• McCain edged out Obama 48.51 percent to 47.76 percent, a difference of less than 1 percentage point, at the precinct in the Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters along Interstate 70. The gubernatorial race was likewise tightly contested here, with Nixon winning over Hulshof by less than 1 percentage point — 49.33 percent to 48.59 percent.
• Hulshof and Nixon tied at one precinct, the Rejoice Free Will Baptist Church along Chapel Hill Road, where 195 votes were cast in favor of each candidate.
• The closest race for the 9th District congressional seat was in the precinct at Boone County Fire Station No. 5 along East Prathersville Road, where Luetkemeyer won over Baker by five votes — 196 to 191.

Missourian reporter Maegen Benedetti contributed to this story.