In American political discourse, states are often labeled “red” for Republican or “blue” for Democratic. These political reputations are shaped by many factors, including voting patterns in national elections, the party affiliations of Governors and Congressional representatives, and state legislation.
While most states are seen as one or the other, some have less predictable political leanings. These states, which could potentially “swing” to either major party in a presidential election, are sometimes called “swing states” or “purple” states.
How have red and blue states voted in presidential elections?
Most states tend to vote consistently for the presidential candidates of one party or the other. In the last nine elections (since 1988), 43 states voted for the same party seven times or more. Twenty of those states, along with Washington, DC, voted for the same party in all nine elections.
Another seven states — Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia — have voted for each party at least three times in those nine elections, making them less consistent by this measure.
Five states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — voted for different parties’ candidates in the last two elections.
In 2020, the states that voted red by the widest margin were Wyoming (+43 percentage points), West Virginia (+39), North Dakota (+33), Oklahoma (+33), and Idaho (+31).
On the other side of the political aisle, the bluest states in 2020 by presidential voting margin were Vermont (+35 percentage points), Massachusetts (+34), Maryland (+33), Hawaii (+29), and California (+29). Washington, DC, had a margin of +87 points in favor of Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
How red or blue is states’ representation in Congress?
Voters from across the US elect members of Congress to represent their interests in Washington, DC, which also impacts a state’s partisan reputation.
Party affiliations of the Senate
Each state has two elected Senators. As of October 9, 2024, 22 states have a pair of Republican Senators, 21 states have a pair of Democratic Senators[1], and seven have some combination of Republicans, Democrats, and independents.
Party affiliations of the House of Representatives
As for the House, most states with more than one representative have some combination of Republicans and Democrats in their delegations. As of 2024, the largest single-party delegation is in Massachusetts, where Democrats hold all nine seats. The largest all-Republican delegation is Oklahoma with five.
Which states have red or blue governors?
Another way to assess a state’s political partisanship is by looking at its local leaders. As of October 9, 2024, 27 states have Republican governors, while 23 are led by Democrats.
[1] New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez (D) resigned from his seat in August 2024 amid bribery charges and was replaced on a temporary basis by George Helmy, also a Democrat.
