Why are the Rockies swinging Dem?

[Franknburger]

Updated map.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=165066.0

The amazing 2000-2012 swing map above indicates that some of the largest Dem-swings have occured in the Rocky Mountains - not only in Colorado, where it might have been expected to some extent, but also in Southern & Western Wyoming, Western Montana and Northern Idaho. Obviously, the Romney/Mormon effect distorts the picture in and aroud Utah, but even there, we find places like, e.g., Summit County UT swinging Democrat.

The Rockies have none of the classical D-leaning characteristics - neither are they urban, nor blue-collar, nor characterised by strong minority populations. So, what is going on there?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Some liberal ski towns, as well as a growing Latino population in some areas. Nader also took votes from Gore in the West more than anywhere else.

[LastVoter]

Some liberal ski towns, as well as a growing Latino population in some areas. Nader also took votes from Gore in the West more than anywhere else.

And Montana obviously.

[5280]

Liberals like expensive ski towns, and the mountains. Republicans and mostly flat landers.

[soniquemd21921]

Liberals like expensive ski towns, and the mountains. Republicans and mostly flatlanders.

In other words, another Vermont.

What is it with resort areas in the last 30-40 years that have steered them to the left? Obviously, Aspen and Telluride were never as Republican as Stowe and Martha's Vineyard had been because they were mining towns before becoming ski towns, but Jackson Hole, Wyoming (Teton County) seems to be a more recent Democratic swing, as it used to be a strongly Republican county (it voted for Goldwater, for example). What was the primary industry in that county before Jackson Hole took off?

[Jackson]

Ranching, probably.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Let's not forget that 2000 was a horrible year for Democrats in the Mountain West. Look, just look at the 1996-2000 trend map:



As much as Democrats might have gained from 2004 on, they aren't even close to their pre-2000 levels there.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

True. Gore was an exceptionally poor candidate for the West.

[freefair]

The Dakota's have stayed the same, I notice. ( I know, they're plains, but they are pretty similar demographically). They and the Rocky states apart from Utah are relatively libertarian  for presidential GOP states and would probably be responsive to a socially progressive fiscal conservative candidate.

[Siloch]

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona are still very Republican states, it is similar in the way your map shows parts of Massachusetts trending Republican, it is just because those places are so Democratic to begin with.

Colorado and New Mexico are different stories.

[LastVoter]

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona are still very Republican states, it is similar in the way your map shows parts of Massachusetts trending Republican, it is just because those places are so Democratic to begin with.

Colorado and New Mexico are different stories.

Obama lost MT by 3% in 2008. Western Montana has quite a few liberal ski/college towns + unionized mining towns.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Ross Perot effect suspicious of gov't but concerned about the debt. Clinton balanced the budget in 1997 and growth in job creation through an extended period of time. That transcended to Obama along with the hispanic growth.

[5280]

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona are still very Republican states, it is similar in the way your map shows parts of Massachusetts trending Republican, it is just because those places are so Democratic to begin with.

Colorado and New Mexico are different stories.

2nd, alot of transplants that move to CO are probably Democrat, and from California and the east coast.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona are still very Republican states, it is similar in the way your map shows parts of Massachusetts trending Republican, it is just because those places are so Democratic to begin with.

Colorado and New Mexico are different stories.

2nd, alot of transplants that move to CO are probably Democrat, and from California and the east coast.

What are you, a broken record?

[Siloch]

Obama lost MT by 3% in 2008. Western Montana has quite a few liberal ski/college towns + unionized mining towns.

2008 was a fluke, Obama wasn't even competitive in Montana in 2012 unlike say Colorado. Missouri was closer in 2008 and 2012 and nobody is suggesting Missouri is trending Democratic. Montana is still a very Republican state.

[Skill and Chance]

What's interesting is that a lot of the ski resort counties actually swung hard against Obama this year.  In some of the liberal mountain counties of CO, Obama 2012 fell below Kerry 2004.

[All Along The Watchtower]

What's interesting is that a lot of the ski resort counties actually swung hard against Obama this year.  In some of the liberal mountain counties of CO, Obama 2012 fell below Kerry 2004.

Rich white people.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

What's interesting is that a lot of the ski resort counties actually swung hard against Obama this year.  In some of the liberal mountain counties of CO, Obama 2012 fell below Kerry 2004.

Rich white people.

In addition, at least in Summit County, UT, a lot of them liked Romney for his role in the 2002 Olympics.

[BaldEagle1991]

What's interesting is that a lot of the ski resort counties actually swung hard against Obama this year.  In some of the liberal mountain counties of CO, Obama 2012 fell below Kerry 2004.

Rich white people.

In addition, at least in Summit County, UT, a lot of them liked Romney for his role in the 2002 Olympics.

Why did they like Bush in 2004 then?

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Isn't it obvious?  Latinos and social issues, plus backlash against the Tea Partiers and other ideology hacks in the GOP.  This is why my party is in so much trouble going forward.

[nclib]

Oldies' post and Antonio's are both very true.

Let's not forget that 2000 was a horrible year for Democrats in the Mountain West. Look, just look at the 1996-2000 trend map:



As much as Democrats might have gained from 2004 on, they aren't even close to their pre-2000 levels there.

I checked Clinton's raw 1996 numbers to see if the issue was Perot and it doesn't appear to be (mainly) that:

Trend in Dem%:

CO   5.26%
NM   2.01%
MT   -1.33%
ID   -3.05%
AZ   -3.87%
UT   -10.41%
WY   -10.82%

[sg0508]

Latino community and a GOP platform in individual states (such as CO) that has no prayer concerning statewide electability.

[LastVoter]

Oldies' post and Antonio's are both very true.

Let's not forget that 2000 was a horrible year for Democrats in the Mountain West. Look, just look at the 1996-2000 trend map:



As much as Democrats might have gained from 2004 on, they aren't even close to their pre-2000 levels there.

I checked Clinton's raw 1996 numbers to see if the issue was Perot and it doesn't appear to be (mainly) that:

Trend in Dem%:

CO   5.26%
MT   -1.33%
ID   -3.05%
AZ   -3.87%
NM   -8.14%
UT   -10.41%
WY   -10.82%

One is not like the other

[Smash255]

Latino community and a GOP platform in individual states (such as CO) that has no prayer concerning statewide electability.

It really is quite amazing how bad the CO GOP is.  They think its Mississippi.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Oldies' post and Antonio's are both very true.

Let's not forget that 2000 was a horrible year for Democrats in the Mountain West. Look, just look at the 1996-2000 trend map:



As much as Democrats might have gained from 2004 on, they aren't even close to their pre-2000 levels there.

I checked Clinton's raw 1996 numbers to see if the issue was Perot and it doesn't appear to be (mainly) that:

Trend in Dem%:

CO   5.26%
MT   -1.33%
ID   -3.05%
AZ   -3.87%
NM   -8.14%
UT   -10.41%
WY   -10.82%

I don't understand how you got these numbers.