What makes Iowa so much more Democratic than Nebraska, Kansas, etc.

[Jacobtm]

My first thought in thinking about Iowa compared to neighboring states was that it doesn’t seem that it should be so Democratic. I would expect mid-western states to be more Democratic with greater Urban populations. 

Iowa and neighboring states’ urban population percentage:

Illinois: 89% (Dem)
Michigan: 75% (Dem)
Minnesota: 71% (Dem)
Kansas: 71% (Rep)
Nebraska: 70% (Rep)
Missouri: 70% (Rep)
Wisconsin: 68% (Dem)
Iowa: 61% (Dem)
North Dakota: 56% (Rep)
South Dakota: 52% (Rep)

So clearly there is an overall trend towards more urban pop=more Democratic. But Iowa has something else going on, being very white and not very urban, what is unique in Iowa to make their rural white voters choose Democrats when neighbors with similar demographics don’t?

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0029.pdf

[pbrower2a]

Iowa(see also Minnesota)  has more dairying than ranching. States to the west have more ranching. Dairying is more labor-intensive, and those who tend cattle are more like industrial workers than are ranch hands.

[memphis]

The Mississippi River.

[Sibboleth]

Is this thread for real?

[cope1989]

I've wondered it too. From an outsider's perspective, it seems that it should be pretty strong R. But it's a lot like Minnesota in that it has a large Scandinavian influence that makes it more progressive. Remember, Minnesota is unique in that some its most rural areas are the most D while the suburbs provide the bulk of GOP voters.

Farming also isn't as large of an industry anymore either. A lot of high tech jobs have moved in which has also contributed to its more democratic tilt.

[Progressive Realist]

I've wondered it too. From an outsider's perspective, it seems that it should be pretty strong R. But it's a lot like Minnesota in that it has a large Scandinavian influence that makes it more progressive. Remember, Minnesota is unique in that some its most rural areas are the most D while the suburbs provide the bulk of GOP voters.

Farming also isn't as large of an industry anymore either. A lot of high tech jobs have moved in which has also contributed to its more democratic tilt.

Those elements really aren't that significant, IMO.

[WhyteRain]

A historical-cultural book, Albion's Seed, indicates that the flow of Puritan emigrants to the West followed the Great Lakes and ended in Iowa.  (Obviously there was then a "jump" across the Rockies to the Oregon Territory.)  Maybe that's why Iowa votes like New England.

Btw, excellent book, though a little dry, especially if you're not into cultural-history:  http://www.amazon.com/Albions-Seed-British-Folkways-Cultural/dp/0195069056

[Senator Snowstalker]

LOL, I literally just posted a thread about this.

[Devils30]

I think the scandinavian influence explains it well. Fewer scotch-irish

[Sibboleth]

Is this thread for real?

Some sad individual actually reported the above post. Can you believe that? This forum is going to the dogs.

Anyways, what this thread really shows (above anything and everything else) is that life outside major metropolitan areas might as well be on a different planet as far as most here are concerned.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Is this thread for real?

Some sad individual actually reported the above post. Can you believe that? This forum is going to the dogs.

Anyways, what this thread really shows (above anything and everything else) is that life outside major metropolitan areas might as well be on a different planet as far as most here are concerned.

Ah. So the proper response to this ignorance is to ostracize those who express curiosity? Good show.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri are all swing states, and Minnesota kind of is.  I think the reason is a lot of Upper Midwest sentiments on many social and economic issues.  People talk about the religious conservatives in Iowa, but they're only really powerful in the state Republican Party.

[OC]

College kids recruiting in Iowa City and Des Moines make it much more democratic as a whole than NEB etc.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A historical-cultural book, Albion's Seed, indicates that the flow of Puritan emigrants to the West followed the Great Lakes and ended in Iowa.  (Obviously there was then a "jump" across the Rockies to the Oregon Territory.)  Maybe that's why Iowa votes like New England.

Btw, excellent book, though a little dry, especially if you're not into cultural-history:  http://www.amazon.com/Albions-Seed-British-Folkways-Cultural/dp/0195069056

Iowa doesn't really vote much like New England, at least not anymore.  It's a swing state, after all.

[BlondeArtisit]

Iowa is a dairy farming state like wisconsin. nebraska texas ranching.