Columbus, OH

Look, I’ve lived in Columbus my whole life, and I’ve watched this city change in ways that would shock someone who left ten years ago. The political climate here is overwhelmingly progressive, with a Cook PVI of D+21, meaning the city votes about 21 points more Democratic than the national average. That’s not just a lean—it’s a supermajority. In the 2024 presidential election, Franklin County went for the Democratic candidate by roughly 60 points, while the surrounding counties—Delaware, Union, and Licking—voted Republican by 15 to 25 points. So if you’re looking for a place where your vote might actually balance things out, Columbus isn’t it. The trajectory has been steadily leftward since the early 2000s, driven by rapid growth in the urban core, a flood of out-of-state transplants, and a local government that seems eager to adopt every progressive policy that comes down the pike.

How it compares

If you drive 20 minutes north to Delaware or 30 minutes east to Granville, you’ll find communities that still feel like the Ohio I grew up in—lower taxes, fewer regulations, and a general sense that the government stays out of your business. But inside the 270 beltway, it’s a different world. Columbus city council is all Democrats, and they’ve been pushing things like a $15 minimum wage for city contractors, paid sick leave mandates, and a “welcoming city” ordinance that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Compare that to nearby Dublin or Powell, where local officials still talk about fiscal responsibility and property rights. The contrast is stark: you can live in a suburb that feels like 1995, or you can live in the city where every year brings a new ordinance that tells you how to run your business or what you can do with your property.

What this means for residents

For a long-time resident like me, the biggest concern is the slow creep of government overreach into everyday life. The city has been aggressive with zoning changes that make it harder to own a single-family home without jumping through hoops, and they’ve floated ideas like rent control and mandatory inclusionary zoning—policies that sound good on paper but usually end up raising costs for everyone. Property taxes in Franklin County have climbed about 15% since 2020, partly because the city keeps expanding services and programs that a lot of us never asked for. If you run a small business, you’ve probably dealt with new paid leave rules and a minimum wage hike that makes it tough to compete with the big chains. The schools are decent, but the curriculum has shifted noticeably toward social-emotional learning and diversity initiatives, which some parents see as a distraction from basics like math and reading.

On the cultural side, Columbus has become a hub for progressive activism—you’ll see pride flags on every other house in Clintonville, and the Short North is packed with murals and events that celebrate every identity except the one that says “I just want to be left alone.” The city’s response to the 2020 protests was a major turning point: they defunded the police by about $15 million, then quietly restored most of it after crime spiked, but the damage to trust was done. Looking ahead, I expect the political climate to keep shifting left as more people move in from places like California and New York, drawn by jobs at Ohio State or Nationwide. If you value personal freedom and limited government, you’ll want to live in one of the surrounding counties and just commute in for work. The city itself is a lost cause for conservatives, but the region still has pockets where common sense prevails.