Explain these Montana counties

[walleye26]

Flathead and Ravalli. Flathead has Kalispell, which is decent sized (for Montana). Both are pretty strong Republican beacons in otherwise blue-leaning Western/Ski Resort parts of Montana. I know western Montana is much more Democratic friendly than the eastern part. So why are these two much more Republican leaning?

[TML]

Both of these counties are over 90% white, and the share of people with higher education is less than 30%. These factors combine to produce Republican dominance.

[RI]

Both have large, flat valley floors used primarily for cropland, which is not that common in western Montana. This means they have a larger rural population share than most western Montana counties.

[jimrtex]

Flathead and Ravalli. Flathead has Kalispell, which is decent sized (for Montana). Both are pretty strong Republican beacons in otherwise blue-leaning Western/Ski Resort parts of Montana. I know western Montana is much more Democratic friendly than the eastern part. So why are these two much more Republican leaning?

In Montana, it is more mining (Butte), state capital (Helena), and university (Bozeman and Missoula) that gives it the Democratic tilt, rather than ski areas.

Flathead has quite a bit of variation, I'd guess that Kalispell is a little more left (Trump in the 50s, vs. more rural areas.

[TML]

Flathead and Ravalli. Flathead has Kalispell, which is decent sized (for Montana). Both are pretty strong Republican beacons in otherwise blue-leaning Western/Ski Resort parts of Montana. I know western Montana is much more Democratic friendly than the eastern part. So why are these two much more Republican leaning?

In Montana, it is more mining (Butte), state capital (Helena), and university (Bozeman and Missoula) that gives it the Democratic tilt, rather than ski areas.

Flathead has quite a bit of variation, I'd guess that Kalispell is a little more left (Trump in the 50s, vs. more rural areas.

Democratic strength can also be found in Indian Reservations.

[HAnnA MArin County]

FWIW, Ravalli (which I always read as Ravioli) County contains Pinesdale, which is basically Montana’s Colorado City with the creepy polygamists. Maybe Ravalli County just has more Mormons than other places to explain its rightward tendencies?

[RI]

FWIW, Ravalli (which I always read as Ravioli) County contains Pinesdale, which is basically Montana’s Colorado City with the creepy polygamists. Maybe Ravalli County just has more Mormons than other places to explain its rightward tendencies?

I don't think so.

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