| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 1,563 | 6,702 | 8,360 | |
| 2020 | R | 1,672 | 6,597 | 8,438 | |
| 2016 | R | 1,618 | 6,001 | 8,083 | |
| 2012 | R | 2,557 | 5,020 | 7,771 | |
| 2008 | R | 3,271 | 4,833 | 8,283 | |
| 2004 | R | 3,398 | 5,004 | 8,466 | |
| 2000 | R | 3,386 | 4,245 | 7,792 | |
| 1996 | D | 3,224 | 2,904 | 7,137 | |
| 1992 | D | 2,993 | 2,499 | 7,730 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,332 | 3,574 | 6,930 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,889 | 4,223 | 7,112 | |
| 1980 | R | 3,297 | 4,061 | 7,521 | |
| 1976 | D | 4,288 | 3,350 | 7,684 | |
| 1972 | R | 3,020 | 5,314 | 8,334 | |
| 1968 | R | 3,370 | 4,087 | 8,258 | |
| 1964 | D | 5,162 | 3,514 | 8,676 | |
| 1960 | R | 3,906 | 5,429 | 9,335 | |
| 1956 | R | 4,300 | 5,467 | 9,767 | |
| 1952 | R | 3,995 | 6,002 | 9,999 | |
| 1948 | D | 4,371 | 4,156 | 8,533 | |
| 1944 | R | 4,096 | 5,122 | 9,236 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,978 | 5,727 | 10,738 | |
| 1936 | D | 5,681 | 5,022 | 10,777 | |
| 1932 | D | 6,220 | 3,395 | 9,694 | |
| 1928 | R | 3,594 | 6,133 | 9,781 | |
| 1924 | D | 4,722 | 4,552 | 9,663 | |
| 1920 | R | 4,433 | 5,039 | 9,708 | |
| 1916 | D | 3,255 | 2,597 | 6,056 | |
| 1912 | D | 3,057 | 1,383 | 6,027 | |
| 1908 | D | 3,248 | 2,754 | 6,249 | |
| 1904 | D | 2,967 | 2,956 | 6,275 | |
| 1900 | D | 3,591 | 2,731 | 6,956 | |
| 1896 | D | 5,073 | 2,522 | 7,728 | |
| 1892 | D | 3,007 | 1,928 | 6,974 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Bates County, anchored by the small city of Butler, logged an R+61.6 presidential margin in 2024, placing it among Missouri's most heavily one-sided rural counties in a state that has shifted sharply away from competitive statewide races over the past two decades.
The Republican margin in Bates County reached its widest at sixty-one points in 2024. The margin in 2024 was sixty-one points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.
Bates County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $60,733, a 93% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 16,186 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 Giles County and Crawford County.
