Republican? Democrat? The terms “red state” and “blue state” get thrown around a lot in modern American politics, but what do they really mean? Which political party dominates in red states, and what defines a red state versus a blue state? Let’s take a closer look.
The Origins of Red States and Blue States
The terms “red state” and “blue state” came into popular use during the 2000 presidential election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. The close and contested nature of the election led to prolonged vote counting in Florida, with news coverage displaying states won by Bush in red and states won by Gore in blue. Although Bush ultimately won the election, the red state vs. blue state distinction stuck as a shorthand way to talk about the political landscape of individual states.
Since 2000, the media has continued using red to refer to states that tend to vote Republican and blue for states that lean Democratic in presidential elections. Some key factors that define a red state versus a blue state include:
- Voting patterns in recent presidential elections
- The party affiliation of the state’s governor and legislature
- Whether state policies align more with Republican or Democratic positions
These determinations are not always clear cut. Many states are considered “swing states” or “battleground states” that could go either way in a given election. Overall, though, the red state vs. blue state distinction provides a useful framework for discussing broader political divides that exist between different regions of the U.S.
What Makes a Red State?
So what exactly makes a state red? There’s no single litmus test, but some common traits of red states include:
- Voting Republican in recent presidential elections
- Having a Republican governor
- Republican control of the state legislature
- Conservative social policies (e.g. restrictions on abortion)
- Lower taxes and regulations on businesses
- Opposition to labor unions
- Looser gun restrictions
While exact definitions vary, solidly Republican states in the South, Great Plains, and Interior West are almost always categorized as red states. For example, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Alabama, and South Dakota have all voted reliably Republican in recent presidential elections. They also have Republican governors and legislatures along with policies that align with traditional Republican positions.
Even when a Democratic presidential candidate manages to win a red state, it is usually by a relatively narrow margin. Red states may swing blue occasionally, but their statewide political orientation remains predominantly conservative and Republican.
What Makes a Blue State?
In contrast to their red counterparts, blue states are united by their tendency to vote Democratic and embrace liberal policies. Some hallmarks of blue states include:
- Voting Democratic in recent presidential elections
- Having a Democratic governor
- Democratic control of the state legislature
- Liberal social policies (e.g. legal abortion and same-sex marriage)
- Higher taxes and business regulations
- Stronger support for labor unions
- Stricter gun laws
Heavily urbanized coastal states like California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts fit the mold of deep blue states. Successful Democratic candidates often win these states by double-digit margins. Republicans occasionally manage upset victories in blue states during wave elections, but Democrats dominate statewide offices and Congressional delegations in these states during most election cycles.
Blue state policies tend to be left-leaning across the board – prioritizing issues like action on climate change, criminal justice reform, and expanded access to healthcare. Red state priorities like lowering taxes and protecting gun rights take a backseat. This divergence on major policy issues is a key dynamic that perpetuates the red state-blue state divide.
Where Do Battleground States Fit In?
Not all states fall neatly into the red or blue category. A number of swing states exist where both Republican and Democratic candidates stand a good chance of winning in any given election. These battleground states help decide control of the White House and Congress.
Competitive battleground states typically include:
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Arizona
- Georgia
- North Carolina
The political preferences of voters in these states are relatively evenly divided between the parties. Battleground states may lean slightly Democratic or Republican but are not firmly aligned with either side. Their state governments also tend to be more divided than solid red or blue states, with offices like the governorship often changing hands between the parties.
Winning battleground states is critical in presidential elections. Candidates focus heavily on campaigning in these states and targeting swing voters who could be persuaded to vote either way. Without winning most of the major battleground states, it is nearly impossible for a candidate to secure an Electoral College victory.
How Do Red and Blue States Align Geographically?
There are clear regional and demographic differences between red states and blue states in the U.S. This table provides a broad overview:
| Red States | Blue States |
|---|---|
| Mostly inland geography | Mostly coastal geography |
| Higher rural populations | Higher urban populations |
| Stronger in South, Great Plains, Mountain West | Stronger in Northeast, West Coast |
In general, Republican red states dominate in the South, rural Great Plains, and Mountain West regions. The Democratic blue states cluster along the coasts, especially in New England and the mid-Atlantic region. Blue states also have major urban centers like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles with more culturally liberal populations.
This geographic division reflects deeper economic, cultural, and demographic differences driving the red state vs. blue state divide. Coastal blue states tend to have larger minority populations, more residents with college degrees, and knowledge economy industries centered in cities. Inland red states have a higher share of white voters without a college degree as well as extractive and agricultural industries more prevalent in rural areas.
These regional alignments have grown more entrenched in recent decades, with both parties’ electoral coalitions becoming more ideologically cohesive. Fewer conservative Southern Democrats or liberal coastal Republicans get elected as politics increasingly polarize along red/blue lines.
Notable Red States and Blue States
While the political landscape is always evolving, several red states and blue states stand out for just how solidly they lean toward one party.
Notable Red States
- Wyoming – The Republican margin here has exceeded 50% in recent presidential elections.
- Oklahoma – The last Democratic presidential candidate to win was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
- Alabama – Democrats have not won a Senate race since 1992 or a gubernatorial race since 1998.
- South Dakota – Republicans control the governor’s office and have supermajorities in both legislative chambers.
- Idaho – Democrats rarely surpass 30% of the statewide vote.
Notable Blue States
- California – The margin of victory for Democratic presidential candidates has grown to over 25% recently.
- New York – Democrats have won the last seven gubernatorial races.
- Illinois – Barack Obama remains the last Republican presidential candidate to win here.
- Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey give Democrats both Senate seats.
- Hawaii – Democrats dominate elections at all levels of government.
Winning statewide races in these intensely partisan states is extremely difficult for the minority party. Only a titanic landslide would shift their alignments. Both parties rely heavily on these states to cushion their Electoral College totals.
Do Red States and Blue States Ever Change?
While most red states and blue states remain fairly constant over time, their electoral alignments can and do shift occasionally. Some factors that can turn a red state blue or vice versa include:
- Demographic changes
- A volatile political climate
- Strong candidates from the minority party
- Evolving issue priorities
- Scandals or unpopular policies
For example, Virginia and Colorado both moved from red state status to blue during the 2000s as their urban populations grew and diversity increased. Democrats also made inroads in red states like Georgia and Arizona by fielding strong Senate candidates with crossover appeal in 2018 and 2020.
Shifts in the opposite direction are rarer but can happen too. Working class areas of the Midwest flipped from longtime Democratic allegiances to backing Donald Trump in 2016, allowing him to narrowly win blue wall states like Wisconsin and Michigan. These states remain up for grabs.
Swing states can also drift toward one party or the other over time. Florida voted Republican reliably through the 2000s but has since become far more competitive and closely contested in national races. No lead is totally safe in the perpetual battle between red states and blue states.
Conclusion
While labeling states as simply “red” or “blue” glosses over local nuances, the distinction remains a handy shorthand for discussing America’s political landscape. Solidly Republican red states are concentrated in the South and interior West, while Democratic blue states cluster along the coasts. Competitive battleground states in between hold the keys to power in Washington.
This alignment between liberal coastal states and conservative inland states traces back to broader economic, social, and demographic divides. Population growth and migration patterns have reinforced these regional loyalties over time. However, states can undergo gradual shifts from one party to the other over the course of several election cycles.
In a closely divided nation, both Republicans and Democrats rely on their red states and blue states as secure sources of votes in presidential and congressional elections. Winning battleground states is essential for victory, but the parties’ bases in their partisan strongholds are what allow them to compete so closely at the national level. Whether any particular state is red, blue or purple, understanding America’s political map remains vital to interpreting our electoral landscape.
