The city's east side (wards 1 and 2) is traditionally more Republican while west and south Olean tend to lean Democratic. Barack Obama narrowly carried the city in 2008 when he won wards 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 while John McCain carried both the East Olean wards of 1 and 2. In 2020, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden narrowly lost the city but won Wards 3, 4, and 5 while losing by 1 vote in Ward 6. Biden would go on to win the Presidential Election nationwide over President Donald Trump.