Most Democratic County in Each State in 2008

[HAnnA MArin County]

I did the same thing with counties in each state that gave Barack Obama his largest margin of victory over John McCain in 2008. These places are much easier to analyze/explain the lopsided results. I gave my own explanations/data from what I found. If anyone wishes to refute or add more analyses, feel free to do so!

1. Shannon County, South Dakota (Obama 88.69 - McCain 9.88 = D + 78.81)
This is the home of the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, and is the second poorest county in the nation - it's 94.20% Native American.

2. Prince George's County, Maryland (Obama 88.87 - McCain 10.38 = D + 78.49)
This is the wealthiest county in the nation that is majority African American (62.70%).

3. Petersburg City, Virginia (Obama 88.64 - McCain 10.19 = D + 78.45)
Heavily African American (78.97%) city.

4. Bronx County, New York (Obama 88.71 - McCain 10.93 = D + 77.78)
Not much to explain, here. It's the Bronx in New York City.

5. Jefferson County, Mississippi (Obama 86.71 - McCain 12.30 = D + 74.41)
A very impoverished (median household income of $18,447) and heavily African American (86.49%) county located in the Mississippi River Delta.

6. Macon County, Alabama (Obama 86.88 - McCain 12.83 = D + 74.05)
Another impoverished (median household income of $21,280) and heavily African American (84.64%) county located in the Black Belt in Alabama.

7. Menominee County, Wisconsin (Obama 86.81 - McCain 12.78 = D + 74.03)
This is the home of the Menominee Native American Reservation - 87.26% Native American.

8. San Francisco County, California (Obama 83.96 - McCain 13.62 = D + 70.34)
San Francisco. Enough said.

9. Starr County, Texas (Obama 84.50 - McCain 15.24 = D + 69.26)
According to the U.S. Census, it is the most Hispanic/Latino county in the nation - 97.54% Hispanic/Latino in South Texas.

10. St. Louis City, Missouri (Obama 83.55 - McCain 15.50 = D + 68.05)
Not much to explain, here. It's St. Louis.

11. Sioux County, North Dakota (Obama 83.09 - McCain 15.60 = D + 67.49)
This is the home of the Standing Rock Native American Reservation - 84.59% Native American.

12. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (Obama 83.00 - McCain 16.33 = D + 66.67)
Philadelphia.

13. Clayton County, Georgia (Obama 82.93 - McCain 16.59 = D + 66.34)
Part of the Atlanta Metro Area; includes the city of Jonesboro; majority African American (51.55%).

14. Taos County, New Mexico (Obama 81.82 - McCain 16.97 = D + 64.85)
Majority (57.94%) Hispanic/Latino.

15. Orleans Parish, Louisiana (Obama 79.42 - McCain 19.08 = D + 60.34)
New Orleans. 

16. Multnomah County, Oregon (Obama 76.69 - McCain 20.61 = D + 56.08)
Portland.

17. Suffolk County, Massachusetts (Obama 76.94 - McCain 21.24 = D + 55.70)
Boston.

18. San Miguel County, Colorado (Obama 76.99 - McCain 21.45 = D + 55.54)
Not sure about this county.

19. Maui County, Hawaii (Obama 76.71 - McCain 21.54 = D + 55.17)
Minority-majority county (33.01% Asian); isn't this where Obama was born?

20. Cook County, Illinois (Obama 76.21 - McCain 22.82 = D + 53.39)
Chicago, duh.

21. Essex County, New Jersey (Obama 75.91 - McCain 23.40 = D + 52.51)
Newark.

22. Durham County, North Carolina (Obama 75.57 - McCain 23.63 = D + 51.94)
Part of the Research Triangle; contains Duke University.

23. Allendale County, South Carolina (Obama 75.27 - McCain 23.53 = D + 51.74)
Majority (71.00%) African American.

24. Wayne County, Michigan (Obama 74.02 - McCain 24.62 = D + 49.40)
Detroit.

25. Windham County, Vermont (Obama 73.02 - McCain 24.90 = D + 48.12)
Must be your typical radical tree-hugging left-wing liberals here? It includes the four towns that passed measures aimed to impeach George W. Bush.

26. King County, Washington (Obama 69.97 - McCain 28.03 = D + 41.94)
Seattle.

27. Johnson County, Iowa (Obama 69.91 - McCain 28.40 = D + 41.51)
Contains Iowa City. Is this a liberal city? Universities? Not too sure.

28. Wyandotte County, Kansas (Obama 69.44 - McCain 28.75 = D + 40.69)
Kansas City.

29. New Castle County, Delaware (Obama 69.66 - McCain 29.07 = D + 40.59)
Wilmington.

30. Silver Bow County, Montana (Obama 68.51 - McCain 28.27 = D + 40.24)
Contains Butte. Is this a liberal city? Universities? Read somewhere about labor unions?

31. Gadsden County, Florida (Obama 69.14 - McCain 30.22 = D + 38.92)
Only county in Florida that is majority (57.14%) African American.

32. Cuyahoga County, Ohio (Obama 68.70 - McCain 29.95 = D + 38.75)
Cleveland.

33. Lake County, Indiana (Obama 66.64 - McCain 32.41 = D + 34.23)
Part of the Greater Chicago Area.

34. Providence County, Rhode Island (Obama 66.02 - McCain 31.94 = D + 34.08)
Providence.

35. Ramsey County, Minnesota (Obama 65.96 - McCain 32.06 = D + 33.90)
One of the Twin Cities - St. Paul.

36. Blaine County, Idaho (Obama 65.71 - McCain 32.53 = D + 33.18)
Has already been discussed - Sun Valley Ski Resort/latte liberals, I guess.

37. Hartford County, Connecticut (Obama 65.11 - McCain 33.67 = D + 31.44)
Home of Hartford, which I'm assuming is the most liberal place in Connecticut?

38. Santa Cruz County, Arizona (Obama 65.07 - McCain 33.86 = D + 31.21)
Majority (80.78%) Hispanic/Latino.

39. Cumberland County, Maine (Obama 64.10 - McCain 34.23 = D + 29.87)
Portland.

40. Phillips County, Arkansas (Obama 63.50 - McCain 34.53 = D + 28.97)
Majority (59.04%) African American.

41. Grafton County, New Hampshire (Obama 63.03 - McCain 35.45 = D + 27.58)
Home of Dartmouth College and Plymouth State University.

42. Shelby County, Tennessee (Obama 63.35 - McCain 35.96 = D + 27.39)
Memphis.

43. Elliott County, Kentucky (Obama 61.03 - McCain 35.86 = D + 25.17)
Apparently, this county has the longest stretch of voting Democratic than any county in the nation. Unions?

44. Teton County, Wyoming (Obama 60.67 - McCain 37.07 = D + 23.60)
Already been discussed on here - Jackson Hole ski/resort community/latte liberals. Also the most affluent county in the country.

45. Clark County, Nevada (Obama 58.47 - McCain 39.48 = D + 18.99)
Las Vegas.

46. Summit County, Utah (Obama 56.34 - McCain 41.11 = D + 15.23)
Not too sure on this county, either, but it has the second lowest percentage of Mormons in the state - was also one of two counties that voted against against the gay marriage ban.

47. Boone County, West Virginia (Obama 54.11 - McCain 43.39 = D + 10.72)
Not too sure on this one, either.

48. Thurston County, Nebraska (Obama 52.68 - McCain 45.72 = D + 6.96)
Majority (52.03%) Native American reservations.

Alaska results not included because I didn't have the information from boroughs, and no results from Oklahoma because Obama didn't win any counties there.

[Vepres]

San Miguel county contains the municipality of Telluride. This ski city has magnificent views and obviously a ski area. It is also rich in wild west history, thought it certainly isn't lacking in modern culture. Generally, it is similar to Aspen. Latte-liberals probably.

[memphis]

Ones that are majority non-Hispanic white:
Multnomah, OR
Suffolk, MA
San Miguel, CO
Wayne, MI
Windham, VT
King, WA
Johnson, IA
New Castle, DE
Silver Bow, MT
Cuyahoga, OH
Lake, IN
Providence, RI
Ramsey, MN
Blaine, ID
Hartford, CT
Cumberland, ME
Grafton, NH
Elliott, KY
Teton, WY
Clark, NV
Summit, UT
Boone, WV

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

27. Johnson County, Iowa (Obama 69.91 - McCain 28.40 = D + 41.51)
Contains Iowa City. Is this a liberal city? Universities? Not too sure.

Yes on both counts.

[platypeanArchcow]

14. Taos County, New Mexico (Obama 81.82 - McCain 16.97 = D + 64.85)
Majority (57.94%) Hispanic/Latino.

More importantly, though, an artsy/resort community.

30. Silver Bow County, Montana (Obama 68.51 - McCain 28.27 = D + 40.24)
Contains Butte. Is this a liberal city? Universities? Read somewhere about labor unions?

Semi-defunct mining area, IIRC.

46. Summit County, Utah (Obama 56.34 - McCain 41.11 = D + 15.23)
Not too sure on this county, either, but it has the second lowest percentage of Mormons in the state - was also one of two counties that voted against against the gay marriage ban.

Another ski resort area.

As for the Kentucky and West Virginia places, Al will have plenty to say there.

[Hash]

San Miguel county contains the municipality of Telluride. This ski city has magnificent views and obviously a ski area. It is also rich in wild west history, thought it certainly isn't lacking in modern culture. Generally, it is similar to Aspen. Latte-liberals probably.

Also Nader's best county in the nation in 2000, 15% or so.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Boone is one of the most important mining areas in WV. It also isn't in the far south of the state, all of which saw a very strong swing in 2008 (normally the most Democratic county in WV is McDowell). Elliot has been as Democratic as it is for so long because of a confusing mish-mash of reasons, a new one often appearing when an old one becomes obsolete.

[Alcon]

30. Silver Bow County, Montana (Obama 68.51 - McCain 28.27 = D + 40.24)
Contains Butte. Is this a liberal city? Universities? Read somewhere about labor unions?

Semi-defunct mining area, IIRC.

Semi-defunct, primarily Catholic mining area with weird, weird, weird politics.  Obama registered a big swing here, didn't lose to Clinton by much, and broke 80% in some precincts.

[minionofmidas]

5. Jefferson County, Mississippi (Obama 86.71 - McCain 12.30 = D + 74.41)
A very impoverished (median household income of $18,447) and heavily African American (86.49%) county located in the Mississippi River Delta.

No. Jefferson is in Southwest Mississippi, not in the Mississippi Delta Country. Which is not the Mississippi River Delta (Mississippi in the first phrase refers to the state, not the river. The Delta is the country between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers - the state's northwest - and is not technically speaking a delta.) Also, the most African American country in the nation.

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No.
Not quite sure why Maui was the most Democratic country in Hawaii last time around, though Hawaii, Maui and Kauai have been pretty much tied for a while now. Kauai is more Asian than the other two, which I suppose have more hippies.

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And not including much more than the city. Compare Hennepin's size.

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Another one of those skibunny leftlibertarianish hill station areas.

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All of the county is two Native Reservations (Omaha and Nebraska Winnebago), but all the best lands got taken by Whites.

[DariusNJ]

2. Prince George's County, Maryland (Obama 88.87 - McCain 10.38 = D + 78.49)

Yeah, its majority black, but there is a university here if i remember correctly, so the whites here tend to be be more liberal and young.


5. Jefferson County, Mississippi (Obama 86.71 - McCain 12.30 = D + 74.41)

Most African American county, with a few blackbelt whites.

6. Macon County, Alabama (Obama 86.88 - McCain 12.83 = D + 74.05)

Same as above.



9. Starr County, Texas (Obama 84.50 - McCain 15.24 = D + 69.26)

Very Hispanic and very poor as well

33. Lake County, Indiana (Obama 66.64 - McCain 32.41 = D + 34.23)

Has the city of Gary, which is around 90% black.

[Nym90]

Most Dem county in OK was Cherokee--McCain 56.08 Obama 43.92

[memphis]

Most Dem county in OK was Cherokee--McCain 56.08 Obama 43.92

Wow. Obama's best county was a twelve point loss. Oklahoma, you never cease to amaze me.

[Nym90]

Most Dem county in OK was Cherokee--McCain 56.08 Obama 43.92

Wow. Obama's best county was a twelve point loss. Oklahoma, you never cease to amaze me.

Yeah, kinda crazy to think that even if Obama had won by as much as Reagan in 1984 did he still would've lost every county in OK (assuming a uniform national swing to produce that result).

[Husker]

For what it's worth, we had 4 counties go over 50% democrat this time. Might not seem like much, but this was the most counties a democrat has won in NE since 1976. Some of our eastern counties cracked the 40% threshold for the first time since 1964.

[Alcon]

46. Summit County, Utah (Obama 56.34 - McCain 41.11 = D + 15.23)
Not too sure on this county, either, but it has the second lowest percentage of Mormons in the state - was also one of two counties that voted against against the gay marriage ban.

Oh, and this is Park City -- the Wikipedia article pretty much tells you all you need to know there.

[HAnnA MArin County]

46. Summit County, Utah (Obama 56.34 - McCain 41.11 = D + 15.23)
Not too sure on this county, either, but it has the second lowest percentage of Mormons in the state - was also one of two counties that voted against against the gay marriage ban.

Oh, and this is Park City -- the Wikipedia article pretty much tells you all you need to know there.

Don't leave us hanging like that, Alcon lol to save everyone the trouble, here's what I think Alcon is getting at:

"On average, the tourist population greatly exceeds the number of permanent residents.

After a population decline following the shutdown of the area's mining industry, the city rebounded during the 1980s and 1990s through an expansion of its tourism business. The city has three major ski resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons Resort. The Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Although they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do their counterparts in Salt Lake County, such as Snowbird resort, they are much easier to access."

Thanks for the information, Alcon!

[homelycooking]

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It is, 92.20% for Obama. The city is roughly one-third Black, one-third White and one-third Hispanic (mostly Puerto Rican). Hartford County also includes Bloomfield, the only town in New England with a Black majority (85.38% for Obama), and the state's most Republican town, Hartland (39.62% for Obama) It's not wealthy like New Canaan or Darien, rather, it's stuffed with rednecks.

[nclib]

Ones that are majority non-Hispanic white:
Multnomah, OR
Suffolk, MA
San Miguel, CO
Wayne, MI
Windham, VT
King, WA
Johnson, IA
New Castle, DE
Silver Bow, MT
Cuyahoga, OH
Lake, IN
Providence, RI
Ramsey, MN
Blaine, ID
Hartford, CT
Cumberland, ME
Grafton, NH
Elliott, KY
Teton, WY
Clark, NV
Summit, UT
Boone, WV

The following counties, while not majority non-hispanic white, appear to have a good amount of liberal whites:

Prince George's County, MD
Petersburg City, VA
Bronx County, NY
San Francisco County, CA
St. Louis City, MO
Philadelphia County, PA
Clayton County, GA
Taos County, NM
Orleans Parish, LA
Maui County, HI
Cook County, IL
Essex County, NJ
Durham County, NC
Wyandotte County, KS
Santa Cruz County, AZ
Shelby County, TN

[pbrower2a]

46. Summit County, Utah (Obama 56.34 - McCain 41.11 = D + 15.23)
Not too sure on this county, either, but it has the second lowest percentage of Mormons in the state - was also one of two counties that voted against against the gay marriage ban.

Oh, and this is Park City -- the Wikipedia article pretty much tells you all you need to know there.

Don't leave us hanging like that, Alcon lol to save everyone the trouble, here's what I think Alcon is getting at:

"On average, the tourist population greatly exceeds the number of permanent residents.

After a population decline following the shutdown of the area's mining industry, the city rebounded during the 1980s and 1990s through an expansion of its tourism business. The city has three major ski resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons Resort. The Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Although they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do their counterparts in Salt Lake County, such as Snowbird resort, they are much easier to access."

Thanks for the information, Alcon!

The tourist trade relies heavily upon low-paid, young, empathic workers. Such workers tend to be liberals because (1) their career advancement largely depends upon some other job opening up, (2) in current times, young people are overwhelmingly Democratic, and  (3) empathic people tend to be liberals.

[DariusNJ]

The following counties, while not majority non-hispanic white, appear to have a good amount of liberal whites:

Prince George's County, MD
Petersburg City, VA
Bronx County, NY
San Francisco County, CA
St. Louis City, MO
Philadelphia County, PA
Clayton County, GA
Taos County, NM
Orleans Parish, LA
Maui County, HI
Cook County, IL
Essex County, NJ
Durham County, NC
Wyandotte County, KS
Santa Cruz County, AZ
Shelby County, TN

Whites in Orleans Parish aren't very liberal.

Shelby County Tennessee has liberal whites? I may be wrong, but I think that about 80-85% of the whites in that county voted for McCain.

[minionofmidas]

Both Orleans and Memphis have White Liberal Democrats. They are not a majority of the county's White populations, of course, but they're there. (One pretty solid enclave of such voters in Midtown Memphis, several smaller enclaves plus scattered among the Republicans in NOLA.)

[memphis]

Both Orleans and Memphis have White Liberal Democrats. They are not a majority of the county's White populations, of course, but they're there. (One pretty solid enclave of such voters in Midtown Memphis, several smaller enclaves plus scattered among the Republicans in NOLA.)

With the exception of Midtown, which is a fairly small area, white Dems are sprinkled fairly uniformly (and lightly) throughout the rest of white areas of county.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Finding the liberal white parts of New Orleans isn't hard, just look for the areas that voted overwhelmingly for both Obama and Cao.

[minionofmidas]

Both Orleans and Memphis have White Liberal Democrats. They are not a majority of the county's White populations, of course, but they're there. (One pretty solid enclave of such voters in Midtown Memphis, several smaller enclaves plus scattered among the Republicans in NOLA.)

With the exception of Midtown, which is a fairly small area, white Dems are sprinkled fairly uniformly (and lightly) throughout the rest of white areas of county.

Yeah, of course there are some of you elsewhere. Sorry to have implied otherwise.

[Derek]

Well in my state Philadelphia is the most liberal county. My other home state of Florida would be Miami-Dade or Alachua County.