| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 3,469 | 5,256 | 8,832 | |
| 2020 | R | 3,647 | 4,821 | 8,555 | |
| 2016 | R | 3,288 | 3,977 | 7,662 | |
| 2012 | D | 4,536 | 3,314 | 7,952 | |
| 2008 | D | 4,732 | 2,984 | 7,831 | |
| 2004 | D | 4,402 | 3,929 | 8,388 | |
| 2000 | D | 3,710 | 3,336 | 7,263 | |
| 1996 | D | 3,261 | 2,172 | 6,460 | |
| 1992 | D | 3,143 | 2,582 | 7,859 | |
| 1988 | R | 3,521 | 3,665 | 7,230 | |
| 1984 | R | 2,961 | 4,584 | 7,586 | |
| 1980 | R | 3,598 | 4,421 | 8,591 | |
| 1976 | R | 3,839 | 4,131 | 8,183 | |
| 1972 | R | 2,804 | 4,898 | 7,786 | |
| 1968 | R | 2,853 | 4,084 | 7,412 | |
| 1964 | D | 4,471 | 3,194 | 7,671 | |
| 1960 | R | 3,607 | 4,715 | 8,330 | |
| 1956 | R | 3,212 | 4,733 | 7,978 | |
| 1952 | R | 2,905 | 5,731 | 8,653 | |
| 1948 | D | 3,740 | 3,288 | 7,104 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,696 | 4,421 | 8,147 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,315 | 5,059 | 9,419 | |
| 1936 | D | 4,976 | 3,801 | 9,247 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,886 | 3,246 | 8,213 | |
| 1928 | R | 3,585 | 5,134 | 8,771 | |
| 1924 | R | 1,265 | 2,671 | 7,699 | |
| 1920 | R | 1,357 | 4,893 | 6,429 | |
| 1916 | R | 2,059 | 2,544 | 4,705 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,852 | 1,747 | 4,463 | |
| 1908 | R | 2,100 | 2,832 | 5,061 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,928 | 2,875 | 4,941 | |
| 1900 | R | 2,100 | 2,852 | 5,108 | |
| 1896 | R | 2,236 | 2,919 | 5,332 | |
| 1892 | R | 2,286 | 2,366 | 4,943 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Lafayette County's economy revolves around livestock farming and small agricultural towns, and its electorate has shifted steadily rightward over the past two decades, delivering a 20-point Republican margin in 2024 after splitting more closely in earlier elections.
The Democratic margin in Lafayette County has rarely exceeded twenty-two points in modern history; the Republican margin has rarely exceeded fifty-five points. 2024 delivered the county to the Republican candidate by twenty points.
Lafayette County's demographics resemble the country more than they resemble most counties. A 91% non-Hispanic-white share, a 12% poverty rate, and a median household income of $76,462 — all within the broad national range. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Grant County and Erie County.