States/Areas Where Rural Whites Are More Democratic Than Suburban/Exurban Whites

[H. Ross Peron]

In what areas of the country are whites in rural areas more likely to vote Democratic than their suburban/exurban counterparts? For instance in Minnesota the Twin Cities themselves are usually Democratic while many of its suburbs and exurbs are Republican but the rural areas are Democratic (albeit more Blue Doggish). Is there any such tradition left in the Deep South at this point?

[⛄]

New Hampshire
The Dakotas
Alaska
Hawaii

[TJ in Oregon]

Wisconsin is definitely in this category. One of the states most in this category.

[Dixie Reborn]

In western Massachusetts, the population is generally much more white and much more progressive than the state as a whole. Same is true on some level for far-northern New York, and some "ski counties" in Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.

[ElectionsGuy]

Many areas in the Midwest. Southeastern Wisconsin is a great example compared to northern and western Wisconsin. The western exurbs of Minneapolis compared to northern and southern parts of the state. In the Northeast New Hampshire seems to be the only example with Rockingham County and Hillsborough County (which are the two biggest) being more republican than most of the rural counties to the west.

[TJ in Oregon]

Many areas in the Midwest. Southeastern Wisconsin is a great example compared to northern and western Wisconsin. The western exurbs of Minneapolis compared to northern and southern parts of the state. In the Northeast New Hampshire seems to be the only example with Rockingham County and Hillsborough County (which are the two biggest) being more republican than most of the rural counties to the west.

This phenomenon is limited to the Upper Midwest though. In more Rust Belt areas like OH/MI/IN the suburbs are quite a bit more Democratic than the rural areas. Then again outside Appalachia, most of rural Ohio is either German or Evangelical whereas the cities are culturally more of a salad bowl of other ancestries.

The rural parts of the Great Plains states are also extremely conservative while their suburbs are only moderately conservative.

[Linus Van Pelt]

Many areas in the Midwest. Southeastern Wisconsin is a great example compared to northern and western Wisconsin. The western exurbs of Minneapolis compared to northern and southern parts of the state. In the Northeast New Hampshire seems to be the only example with Rockingham County and Hillsborough County (which are the two biggest) being more republican than most of the rural counties to the west.

This phenomenon is limited to the Upper Midwest though. In more Rust Belt areas like OH/MI/IN the suburbs are quite a bit more Democratic than the rural areas. Then again outside Appalachia, most of rural Ohio is either German or Evangelical whereas the cities are culturally more of a salad bowl of other ancestries.

The rural parts of the Great Plains states are also extremely conservative while their suburbs are only moderately conservative.

OH and MI, yes. But IN is not so clear. The ring of counties around Indianapolis can often be more Republican than the rural areas.

[Non Swing Voter]

Economically repressed (or just not wealthy) areas of New England tend to have whites that vote strongly democratic.  I guess CT would be an example of this... Fairfield County is urban/suburban and many of the suburbs vote much more Republican than rural towns that are 90% white in the central part of the state.

[⛄]

Does Harris County, TX count?

[RTX]

Foard County, TX might count (~80% white), at least on the gubernatorial level. I'm not sure if it's ever voted for a Republican for governor.

Since 1990, with vote totals and %:
1990: Richards (D): 454 - 70.6%, Williams (R): 182 - 28.3%
1994: Richards (D): 347 - 64.7%, Bush (R): 187 - 34.9%
1998: Mauro (D): 206 - 49.6%, Bush (R): 205 - 49.4%
2002: Sanchez (D): 227 - 62.36%, Perry (R): 136 - 37.36%
2006: Bell (D): 166 - 43.68%, Strayhorn (I): 97 - 25.53%, Perry (R): 87 - 22.89%, Friedman (I) 28 - 7.37%
2010: White (D): 153 - 48.57%, Perry (R) - 148 - 46.98%

On the presidential level, it switched from solid D to R in 2000.

[Rockefeller GOP]

I'd think Arkansas (until a few years ago) was in this camp ... I know the northwest corner of the state was for more Republican than the rest of state for a while.  Also maybe suburban Oklahoma City vs. southeastern Oklahoma?

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Probably most of the South.  While rural Southern whites may lean Republican, it's nowhere near as much as suburban Southern whites.

[dmmidmi]

At a more "local" level, Michigan's Upper Peninsula has a tendency to vote to the left of many of Michigan's more suburban counties.

All but three counties in the UP voted to the left of Macomb and Oakland counties in the 2010 Gubernatorial Election. It used to be the most reliably Democratic part of the state--Clinton won nearly every county both times. Levin won every county in 1996, 2002, and 2008. Stabenow won every county in 2006 and 2012 (despite the fact that Obama won only two counties in the UP in 2012).

In contrast, Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula is reliably Republican.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Southern Indiana + a select few northern counties are far more Democratic than the insanely Republican  Indianapolis suburbs.

[Miles]

Probably most of the South.  While rural Southern whites may lean Republican, it's nowhere near as much as suburban Southern whites.

This. For example, Obama did worse in NC-07 than NC-09. The state average for NC-07 is 54/46-ish R while NC-09 is closer to 60/40 R.