From Democratic strongholds to Republican victories, five decades of election results tell the story of a changing political landscape in Columbus County.

For generations, politics has been part of everyday conversation in Columbus County.

From discussions around kitchen tables and conversations in downtown businesses to candidate forums and Election Day gatherings, residents have long taken an interest in the people who represent their communities.

But how has Columbus County actually voted over the years?

A look at presidential election results stretching back to 1976 reveals a fascinating political history — one marked by Democratic victories, competitive races, occasional Republican breakthroughs, and a significant shift in recent decades.

And while presidential elections provide one way to measure those changes, local races for sheriff, county commissioner, school board, and other offices tell an equally important part of the story.

The 1970s: A Democratic Stronghold

In 1976, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter won an overwhelming victory in Columbus County.

Carter, the Democratic presidential nominee, received 11,148 votes, compared with 3,184 for Republican President Gerald Ford.

That represented approximately 77% of the county’s presidential vote for Carter.

Four years later, when Carter faced Republican Ronald Reagan, Columbus County again supported the Democratic candidate.

Carter received 10,212 votes in 1980, while Reagan received 5,522.

Although Reagan won the presidency nationally, Columbus County remained firmly in the Democratic column.

The 1980s: Republican Breakthroughs and Democratic Comebacks

The 1984 presidential election brought a change.

Ronald Reagan carried Columbus County with 9,150 votes, narrowly defeating Democrat Walter Mondale, who received 8,728.

It was a competitive result compared with the Democratic margins of the previous two elections.

But the Republican victory did not establish a continuous pattern.

In 1988, Columbus County returned to the Democratic column, supporting Michael Dukakis over George H. W. Bush by 9,172 votes to 6,659.

The results demonstrated that the county’s presidential preferences could change considerably from one election to the next.

The 1990s: Democrats Maintain Their Advantage

The 1992 presidential election produced another substantial Democratic victory in Columbus County.

Bill Clinton received 11,469 votes, while Republican President George H. W. Bush received 5,462.

Independent candidate Ross Perot also attracted considerable attention, receiving 1,985 votes in the county.

Clinton carried Columbus County again in 1996, receiving 9,019 votes compared with 6,017 for Republican Bob Dole.

By the end of the decade, Democratic presidential candidates had won Columbus County in three consecutive elections.

However, the margins would begin to narrow.

The 2000s: A Political Turning Point

The presidential election of 2000 marked one of the final Democratic presidential victories in Columbus County.

Democrat Al Gore received 9,986 votes, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received 8,342.

Four years later, the result reversed.

In 2004, President George W. Bush carried Columbus County with 10,773 votes, compared with 10,343 for Democrat John Kerry.

The margin was just 430 votes.

It was a significant moment in the county’s modern presidential voting history.

Republican presidential candidates have carried Columbus County in every election since 2004.

In 2008, Republican John McCain received 12,994 votes, compared with 11,076 for Democrat Barack Obama.

The county again supported the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, when Mitt Romney received 12,941 votes to Obama’s 11,050.

The 2010s and 2020s: Growing Republican Presidential Margins

By 2016, the Republican advantage in Columbus County presidential elections had expanded.

Donald Trump received 14,272 votes, compared with 9,063 for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Four years later, Trump received 16,832 votes, while Democrat Joe Biden received 9,446.

In 2024, the county again supported Trump, who received 17,592 votes, compared with 8,648 for Democrat Kamala Harris.

The results represent a substantial change from 1976, when Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter received more than three-quarters of the county’s presidential vote.

In 2024, the Republican nominee received approximately two-thirds.

Over those 48 years, the county’s presidential voting pattern shifted dramatically.

Local Elections Tell Another Story

Presidential elections are only one part of Columbus County’s political history.

Local contests have sometimes produced different voting patterns and closer results.

The 2022 race for Columbus County sheriff offers an example.

Republican Jody Greene received 10,092 votes, while Democrat Jason Soles received 8,503.

The margin was 1,589 votes, considerably closer than the county’s presidential results in 2020 and 2024.

That same 2022 election also featured contested county commissioner races.

In District 7, Republican Scott Floyd received 2,122 votes, compared with 515 for Democrat Edward Squires.

In District 1, Democrat Barbara Roseboro Featherson received 1,776 votes in a race that also included write-in candidates.

These contests illustrate why understanding local political history requires looking beyond presidential results.

Voters make decisions in different races, and countywide results cannot always explain what happens within individual districts.

What About Voter Turnout?

Another important part of the county’s political story is participation.

The number of presidential votes recorded in Columbus County has changed substantially over the past five decades.

In 1976, the county recorded 14,401 presidential votes across all candidates.

By 2004, that number had grown to 21,191.

In 2020, the presidential vote total reached 26,446, and in 2024, it was 26,402.

Those numbers show that substantially more presidential votes were recorded in recent elections than in the 1970s.

However, the number of votes cast in a presidential contest is not the same as the county’s official voter turnout rate.

A complete turnout comparison must also consider how many people were registered or eligible to vote in each election.

Fifty Years of Political Change

Looking back over five decades, several patterns emerge.

Columbus County strongly supported Democratic presidential candidates in the 1970s, experienced competitive elections and changing outcomes in the 1980s, and continued supporting Democratic presidential nominees through the 1990s.

The 2004 presidential election marked the beginning of a continuous series of Republican presidential victories that extended through 2024.

Meanwhile, local races have continued to reflect their own candidates, districts, and circumstances.

As Columbus County residents prepare to participate in the 2026 general election, the county’s voting history provides valuable perspective.

Election results are more than numbers on a page. They are records of decisions made by generations of residents, reflecting the political choices of their times.

And fifty years from now, today’s elections will be part of that same history.

Five early voting locations are open across Columbus County as residents prepare for the November 3 general election. Here’s where to vote, when to go, and what to bring.

Election season has officially arrived in Columbus County, and voters are already heading to the polls.

Early voting for North Carolina’s 2026 general election began Thursday, October 15, giving residents more than two weeks to cast their ballots before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3.

From Whiteville and Chadbourn to Tabor City, Fair Bluff, and Riegelwood, five early voting locations are available throughout Columbus County.

Whether you’re a first-time voter, a longtime participant in local elections, or someone who simply wants to avoid the Election Day rush, there are a few important things to know before heading to the polls.

Early Voting Is Already Drawing Residents to the Polls

Columbus County voters wasted little time participating in this year’s election.

According to local reporting, 722 residents cast ballots on the first day of early voting, October 15.

The Columbus County Board of Elections location in Whiteville recorded the largest share of those first-day voters, with 338 ballots cast. Other locations also saw participation, including Chadbourn with 124 voters, Ransom with 135, Tabor City with 85, and Fair Bluff with 40.

The five locations remained part of the county’s early voting plan following discussions earlier this year about potentially reducing the number of voting sites.

For residents living in different parts of the county, having multiple locations provides options for voting closer to home or work.

Where Can You Vote Early in Columbus County?

Unlike Election Day, when voters must report to their assigned precinct, registered Columbus County voters can cast their ballots at any of the county’s five early voting locations.

1. Columbus County Board of Elections

2586 James B. White Highway North, Building B, Whiteville

2. Chadbourn Municipal Annex

208 East First Avenue, Chadbourn

3. Ransom Event Center

2696 General Howe Highway, Riegelwood

4. Tabor City Courthouse

110 West Fourth Street, Tabor City

5. Fair Bluff Fire & Rescue Department

152 Main Street, Fair Bluff

All five locations follow the same early voting schedule.

Early Voting Dates and Hours

Early voting continues through Saturday, October 31.

• Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There is no Sunday early voting scheduled in Columbus County for this election.

Voters planning to participate on Election Day must visit their assigned precinct rather than choosing among the five early voting locations.

What Do You Need to Bring?

North Carolina requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification when voting in person.

Commonly accepted forms include a North Carolina driver’s license, a state-issued identification card, a U.S. passport, a qualifying military or veterans identification card, and certain approved student identification cards.

Most acceptable IDs must be unexpired or expired for no more than one year, although exceptions apply to certain identification types and voters age 65 and older.

Residents who do not have an acceptable photo ID may still cast a provisional ballot and complete the applicable identification exception process.

The Columbus County Board of Elections can also provide free voter photo identification cards to eligible registered voters.

Not Registered Yet? You May Still Have Time

Although North Carolina’s regular voter registration deadline passed on October 9, eligible residents who missed that deadline still have an opportunity to participate.

North Carolina allows same-day registration during the early voting period.

Eligible residents can register and vote during the same visit at an early voting location, provided they meet the requirements and present acceptable documentation establishing their residence.

Same-day registration is not generally available on Election Day, so residents who need to register should make plans to visit an early voting location before October 31.

What’s on the Ballot?

This year’s general election includes contests that will help determine representation at the federal, state, and local levels.

North Carolina voters will participate in races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, seats in the North Carolina General Assembly, and judicial offices.

Columbus County voters will also see local contests and ballot questions, depending on their districts.

Among the local issues are a proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase and three separate referendums concerning alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of Columbus County.

Voters can review their individual sample ballots through the North Carolina State Board of Elections before arriving at the polls.

Prefer to Vote on Election Day?

For residents who would rather wait, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Unlike early voting, Election Day voting takes place at each resident’s assigned polling location.

Residents who are unsure where they are registered to vote can check their information using the state’s online voter search system.

Every Election Brings Decisions Close to Home

While national political contests often dominate headlines, local elections can have a direct impact on everyday life in Columbus County.

Decisions about county services, public education, taxes, infrastructure, and community development are all connected to the work of elected officials.

For residents across Whiteville, Tabor City, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Lake Waccamaw, and the county’s smaller communities, this election provides an opportunity to participate in choosing the people and policies that will help shape the years ahead.

And with early voting already underway, residents don’t have to wait until November 3 to make their voices heard.

For more information: Visit the Columbus County Board of Elections at www.columbusco.org/board-elections or call 910-640-6609.

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