Editing Cole County, Missouri (section)

==Government and politics==
===Political culture===
Like many other counties in Mid-Missouri, Cole County is mostly Republican. The last Democratic to win the county in a presidential election was [[Harry S Truman]] in [[1948 United States presidential elections|1948]].

In 2004, state residents voted on [[2004 Missouri Amendment 2|a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman]]. This passed Cole County with 74.24% of the vote.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?off=51&year=2004&elect=5&evt=0&f=0&fips=29051&submit=Retrieve</ref> The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters;<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=29&year=2004&f=0&off=51&elect=5</ref> Missouri became the first state to ban [[same-sex marriage]].

===Local===
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] controls politics at the local level in Cole County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county. The Democratic Party do not hold any elected positions on the county level.<ref name="2020 results">{{cite web |title=Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2020 |url=https://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/6171/11-3-20-Cumulative- |website=Cole County Board of Elections |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023211949/https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/6171/11-3-20-Cumulative- |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2018 results">{{cite web |title=Cole County Final Cumulative Election Summary 2018 |url=https://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/4070/11-6-18_Cumulative |website=Cole County Board of Elections |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023211906/https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/4070/11-6-18_Cumulative |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Cole County, Missouri
| assessor          =Chris Estes
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Dawnel P. Davidson
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Steve Korsmeyer
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Sam Bushman
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Jeff Hoelscher
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Harry Otto
| district2party    =Republican
| coroner           =Carl R. Doerhoff
| coronerparty      = Independent
| collector         =Larry Vincent
| collectorparty    =Republican
| prosecutor        =Locke Thompson
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Ralph Jobe
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Judy Ridgeway
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =John P. Wheeler
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| treasurer         =Eric Peters
| treasurerparty    =Republican
| circuitjudge      =Patricia Joyce
| circuitjudgeparty =Democratic
}}

===State===
====Gubernatorial====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''71.03%''' ''28,418''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26.67% ''10,671''
|align="center" |2.39% ''917''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''67.94%''' ''26,886''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|29.63% ''11,726''
|align="center" |2.43% ''961''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''55.58%''' ''20,872''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.09% ''15,806''
|align="center" |2.33% ''877''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''51.85%''' ''19,099''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.64% ''16,810''
|align="center" |2.51% ''926''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''49.87%''' ''19,285''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|48.98% ''18,941''
|align="center" |1.15% ''447''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''63.13%''' ''23,147''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|36.08% ''13,229''
|align="center" |0.80% ''292''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''51.14%''' ''16,673''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.23% ''15,397''
|align="center" |1.63% ''532''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|33.77% ''9,902''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''63.80%''' ''18,708''
|align="center" |2.43% ''713''
|}

====Missouri House of Representatives====
Cole County is divided into five legislative districts in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]], all of which elected Republicans.

*District 49 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=049 Travis Fitzwater] (R-[[Holts Summit, Missouri|Holts Summit]]). Consists of a small unincorporated area of the county just west of the city of Jefferson City.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Travis Fitzwater'''
  |votes      = '''963'''
  |percentage = '''96.59%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016>{{cite web|title=Cole County, Missouri, General Election|url=http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2017|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=Cole County Clerk|access-date=April 15, 2017|archive-date=April 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408111437/http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2017|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Travis Fitzwater'''
  |votes      = '''918'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+35.66'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Travis Fitzwater'''
  |votes      = '''692'''
  |percentage = '''69.69%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Lisa Buhr
  |votes      = 300
  |percentage = 30.21%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014>{{cite web|title=Cole County, Missouri, General Election|url=http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1049|date=November 7, 2014|publisher=Cole County Clerk|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422061749/http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1049|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Travis Fitzwater'''
  |votes      = '''442'''
  |percentage = '''64.34%'''
  |change     = '''-5.57'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Gracia Yancey Backer]]
  |votes      = 245
  |percentage = 35.66%
  |change     = +5.57
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 49 — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012>{{cite web|title=Cole County, Missouri, General Election|url=http://www.colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1060|date=November 8, 2012|publisher=Cole County Clerk|access-date=April 8, 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeanie Riddle'''
  |votes      = '''704'''
  |percentage = '''69.91%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Pam Murray
  |votes      = 303
  |percentage = 30.09%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 50 — [[Sara Walsh (politician)|Sara Walsh]]. Consists of unincorporated areas in the northwest corner of the county.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Sara Walsh'''
  |votes      = '''691'''
  |percentage = '''81.29%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kari Chesney
  |votes      = 159
  |percentage = 18.71%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Sara Walsh'''
  |votes      = '''536'''
  |percentage = '''76.90%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Michela Skelton
  |votes      = 161
  |percentage = 23.10%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Caleb Jones'''
  |votes      = '''684'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Caleb Jones'''
  |votes      = '''426'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''0.00'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 50 — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Caleb Jones'''
  |votes      = '''611'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 59 — [[Rudy Veit]] (R-[[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]]). Consists of the communities of Centertown, Eugene, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, Taos, and Wardsville.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2022)<ref name=Cole2022>https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8358/Nov-8-2022-Cumulative</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Rudy Viet'''
  |votes      = '''13,613'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Rudy Veit'''
  |votes      = '''15,592'''
  |percentage = '''98.27%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Rudy Veit'''
  |votes      = '''11,226'''
  |percentage = '''76.05%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Linda Ellen Greeson
  |votes      = 3,518
  |percentage = 23.83%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Bernskoetter'''
  |votes      = '''14,923'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Bernskoetter'''
  |votes      = '''8,396'''
  |percentage = '''88.59%'''
  |change     = '''+7.84'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Michael Eberle
  |votes      = 1,081
  |percentage = 11.41%
  |change     = +11.41
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 59 — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Bernskoetter'''
  |votes      = '''12,604'''
  |percentage = '''80.75%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Vonnieta Trickey
  |votes      = 3,005
  |percentage = 19.25%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 60 — Dave Griffith (R-[[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]]) Consists of the city of Jefferson City.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2022)<ref name=Cole2022>https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8358/Nov-8-2022-Cumulative</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Dave Griffith'''
  |votes      = '''7,577'''
  |percentage = '''62.20%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = J. Don Salcedo
  |votes      = 4,605
  |percentage = 37.80%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Dave Griffith'''
  |votes      = '''11,404'''
  |percentage = '''63.66%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Joshua Dunne
  |votes      = 6,483
  |percentage = 36.19%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Dave Griffith'''
  |votes      = '''8,944'''
  |percentage = '''57.57%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sara Michael
  |votes      = 6,572
  |percentage = 42.30%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason (Jay) Barnes'''
  |votes      = '''11,139'''
  |percentage = '''64.24%'''
  |change     = '''-35.76'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Nelson
  |votes      = 6,202
  |percentage = 35.76%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason (Jay) Barnes'''
  |votes      = '''9,041'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''-39.89'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 60 — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason (Jay) Barnes'''
  |votes      = '''10,674'''
  |percentage = '''60.11%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Thomas Minihan
  |votes      = 7.084
  |percentage = 39.89%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 62 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2017&district=062 Tom Hurst] (R-[[Meta, Missouri|Meta]]) Consists of the community of St. Thomas.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Bruce Sassmann'''
  |votes      = '''955'''
  |percentage = '''83.63%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Nancy Ragan
  |votes      = 187
  |percentage = 16.37%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Tom Hurst'''
  |votes      = '''774'''
  |percentage = '''83.50%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ashley Fajkowski
  |votes      = 153
  |percentage = 16.50%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Tom Hurst'''
  |votes      = '''991'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Tom Hurst'''
  |votes      = '''592'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''-25.51'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Tom Hurst'''
  |votes      = '''765'''
  |percentage = '''74.49%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Greg Stratman
  |votes      = 262
  |percentage = 25.51%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Missouri Senate====
Cole County is a part of Missouri's 6th District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by Mike Bernskoetter (R-[[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2022)<ref name=Cole2022>https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8358/Nov-8-2022-Cumulative</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Bernskoetter'''
  |votes      = '''23,302'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Bernskoetter'''
  |votes      = '''23,058'''
  |percentage = '''69.49%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Nicole Thompson
  |votes      = 9,473
  |percentage = 28.55%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven Wilson
  |votes      = 625
  |percentage = 1.88%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 6 — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Kehoe'''
  |votes      = '''17,157'''
  |percentage = '''75.64%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mollie Kristen Freebairn
  |votes      = 5,526
  |percentage = 24.36%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
====US Senate====
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Josh Hawley'''
  |votes      = '''20,738'''
  |percentage = '''61.95%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Claire McCaskill
  |votes      = 11,718
  |percentage = 35.01%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Craig O'Dear
  |votes      = 448
  |percentage = 1.34%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Japheth Campbell
  |votes      = 380
  |percentage = 1.14%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jo Crain
  |votes      = 158
  |percentage = 0.47%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''21,940'''
  |percentage = '''58.54%'''
  |change     = '''+6.77'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 14,216
  |percentage = 37.93%
  |change     = -4.19
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 800
  |percentage = 2.13%
  |change     = -3.98
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 311
  |percentage = 0.83%
  |change     = +0.83
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 206
  |percentage = 0.55%
  |change     = +0.55
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Write-in candidate
  |candidate  = Patrick Lee
  |votes      = 3
  |percentage = 0.01%
  |change     = +0.01
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 18,918
  |percentage = 51.77
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''15,394'''
  |percentage = '''42.12'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 2,233
  |percentage = 6.11
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====US House of Representatives====
All of Cole County is included in [[Missouri's 3rd congressional district]] and is currently represented by [[Blaine Luetkemeyer]] (R-[[St. Elizabeth, Missouri|Saint Elizabeth]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2022)<ref name=Cole2022>https://colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/8358/Nov-8-2022-Cumulative</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''20,116'''
  |percentage = '''70.79%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bethany Mann
  |votes      = 8,203
  |percentage = 29.21%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2020)<ref name="2020 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''27,676'''
  |percentage = '''70.78%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Megan Rezabek
  |votes      = 10,385
  |percentage = 26.56%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Leonard J Steinman II
  |votes      = 1,002
  |percentage = 2.56%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2018)<ref name="2018 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''23,049'''
  |percentage = '''69.29%'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Katy Geppert
  |votes      = 9,649
  |percentage = 29.00%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Donald Stolle
  |votes      = 549
  |percentage = 1.65%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2016)<ref name=Cole2016/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''26,481'''
  |percentage = '''71.61%'''
  |change     = '''-0.51'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Miller
  |votes      = 9,368
  |percentage = 25.33%
  |change     = +1.19
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dan Hogan
  |votes      = 815
  |percentage = 2.20%
  |change     = -1.54
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doanita Simmons
  |votes      = 314
  |percentage = 0.85%
  |change     = +0.85
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2014)<ref name=Cole2014/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''16,401'''
  |percentage = '''72.12%'''
  |change     = '''+1.77'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Courtney Denton
  |votes      = 5,491
  |percentage = 24.14%
  |change     = -3.10
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven Hedrick
  |votes      = 851
  |percentage = 3.74%
  |change     = +1.33
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Write-in candidate
  |candidate  = Harold Davis
  |votes      = 1
  |percentage = >0.00%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District — Cole County (2012)<ref name=Cole2012/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Blaine Luetkemeyer'''
  |votes      = '''25,576'''
  |percentage = '''70.35%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Eric C. Mayer
  |votes      = 9,901
  |percentage = 27.24%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven Wilson
  |votes      = 877
  |percentage = 2.41%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Presidential====
{{PresHead|place=Cole County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 24, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|26,686|12,874|592|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|26,086|12,694|865|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|24,616|10,913|2,127|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|24,490|12,005|695|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|24,385|13,959|490|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|24,752|11,753|196|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|20,167|12,056|552|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|16,140|10,857|2,345|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|15,270|10,201|5,833|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|18,023|8,359|59|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|20,366|6,702|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|16,373|9,210|840|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|14,370|7,949|184|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|16,685|4,754|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,575|5,916|1,625|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|10,068|8,127|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|9,763|8,532|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,323|7,388|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,700|7,507|3|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|6,909|7,891|25|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,364|7,139|4|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,664|8,219|9|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,180|8,831|95|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,636|9,068|27|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,637|6,481|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,205|5,033|583|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,878|4,167|36|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,746|2,915|42|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,103|2,447|316|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,402|2,494|48|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,081|2,244|58|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,157|2,320|32|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,033|2,198|46|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,752|1,844|68|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,708|1,824|17|Missouri}}

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
Former [[U.S. Senator]] and [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] (D-[[Illinois]]) received more votes, a total of 4,642, than any candidate from either party in Cole County during the 2008 presidential primary. Cole County was one of only six counties (including the independent city of St. Louis) that backed Obama in Missouri.