Kansas's capital anchors a metro that swings closer than its rural surroundings
Shawnee County, the metro's core, has shifted between parties in statewide races by single digits over recent cycles, making Topeka a reliable bellwether for Kansas contests that drift from their deeply red baseline.
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee | 179K | D+0.5 | 40,308 | 39,901 | 81,819 | 18.6% |
| Shawnee | 178K | D+0.5 | 40,308 | 39,901 | 81,819 | 18.6% |
| Shawnee | 174K | D+0.5 | 40,308 | 39,901 | 81,819 | 18.6% |
| Shawnee | 170K | D+0.5 | 40,308 | 39,901 | 81,819 | 18.6% |
| Jefferson | 19K | R+36.9 | 3,030 | 6,694 | 9,927 | 2.3% |
| Jefferson | 18K | R+36.9 | 3,030 | 6,694 | 9,927 | 2.3% |
| Jefferson | 18K | R+36.9 | 3,030 | 6,694 | 9,927 | 2.3% |
| Jefferson | 18K | R+36.9 | 3,030 | 6,694 | 9,927 | 2.3% |
| Osage | 17K | R+48.0 | 1,946 | 5,736 | 7,892 | 1.8% |
| Osage | 16K | R+48.0 | 1,946 | 5,736 | 7,892 | 1.8% |
| Osage | 16K | R+48.0 | 1,946 | 5,736 | 7,892 | 1.8% |
| Osage | 16K | R+48.0 | 1,946 | 5,736 | 7,892 | 1.8% |
| Jackson | 13K | R+42.6 | 1,799 | 4,557 | 6,474 | 1.5% |
| Jackson | 13K | R+42.6 | 1,799 | 4,557 | 6,474 | 1.5% |
| Jackson | 13K | R+42.6 | 1,799 | 4,557 | 6,474 | 1.5% |
| Jackson | 13K | R+42.6 | 1,799 | 4,557 | 6,474 | 1.5% |
| Wabaunsee | 7K | R+48.8 | 944 | 2,816 | 3,836 | 0.9% |
| Wabaunsee | 7K | R+48.8 | 944 | 2,816 | 3,836 | 0.9% |
| Wabaunsee | 7K | R+48.8 | 944 | 2,816 | 3,836 | 0.9% |
| Wabaunsee | 7K | R+48.8 | 944 | 2,816 | 3,836 | 0.9% |
| Group | Topeka, KS | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 79.7% | 57.4% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(15) | 8.6% | 19.3% |
▶Black / African American(7) | 6.2% | 12.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 3.2% | 4.0% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(6) | 1.2% | 0.9% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.0% | 6.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8) | 0.2% | 0.9% |
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -15.3pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.3% | 37.8% | — | — | |
| 11.0% | 27.0% | — | — | |
| 9.5% | 23.4% | — | — | |
| 2.7% | 6.7% | — | — | |
| 2.0% | 5.0% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.9% | 2.3% | — | — |
Non-religiousPopulation | 59.4% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Topeka, KS metro area? 919,553 residents across 20 counties.
27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 6pp below the national average. Places with similar education levels vote R+3 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | R+21.2 | D+12.9 | 34.1pp |