So... what's up with Upstate NY and WI?

[Dr. Arch]

2004:

Upstate NY:
✓Kerry 1,553,246 50%
Bush 1,551,971 50%

WI:
✓Kerry 1,489,504  49.7%
Bush  1,478,120  49.3%


2008:

Upstate NY:
✓Obama 1,563,815 54.1%
McCain 1,326,704 45.9%

WI:
✓Obama 1,677,211 56.2%
McCain 1,262,393 42.3%


2012:

Upstate NY:
✓Obama 1,577,284 54.6%
Romney 1,311,618 45.4%

WI:
✓Obama 1,620,985    52.8%
Romney 1,407,966    45.8%


2016:

Upstate NY: (Probably closer to WI when adjusted for 3rd parties)
✓Trump 1,490,242 51.3%
Clinton 1,413,176 48.7%

WI:
✓Trump 1,405,284 47.2%
Clinton 1,382,536 46.4%

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

They want to #MAGA?

[justfollowingtheelections]

2004:

Upstate NY:
✓Kerry 1,553,246 50%
Bush 1,551,971 50%

WI:
✓Kerry 1,489,504  49.7%
Bush  1,478,120  49.3%


2008:

Upstate NY:
✓Obama 1,563,815 54.1%
McCain 1,326,704 45.9%

WI:
✓Obama 1,677,211 56.2%
McCain 1,262,393 42.3%


2012:

Upstate NY:
✓Obama 1,577,284 54.6%
Romney 1,311,618 45.4%

WI:
✓Obama 1,620,985    52.8%
Romney 1,407,966    45.8%


2016:

Upstate NY: (Probably closer to WI when adjusted for 3rd parties)
✓Trump 1,490,242 51.3%
Clinton 1,413,176 48.7%

WI:
✓Trump 1,405,284 47.2%
Clinton 1,382,536 46.4%

They're similar states/areas in many ways.  Both working class areas that have experienced a loss of jobs and prestige in recent decades, also both have a large city to the south (NYC and Chicago).
One obvious difference in the results you posted is that Wisconsin has a more independent streak with more people voting for 3rd parties.  An observation I have made is that the further away a state is from Washington, DC, the smaller the total share of the vote the D and R candidates get.

[longtimelurker]

Perhaps the two biggest dairy farming areas in the country.  Is it a milk thing?

[SWE]

I can't speak for Wisconsin, but when you have someone running a campaign on a platform of open white supremacy, it's obviously going to enthuse the people of Buffalo.

[Hindsight was 2020]

I can't speak for Wisconsin, but when you have someone running a campaign on a platform of open white supremacy, it's obviously going to enthuse the people of Buffalo.

Sadly some truth I we to upstate for college an a lot of the locals blame NYC an in particular the minorities from NYC for their economic decline

[Xing]

It seems Michigan has followed a similar pattern, albeit it's slightly more Democratic than both.

[The_Doctor]

WWC facing real economic decline and developing cultural and economic anger at the fact coupled with the recovery failing to make a measurable impact in these areas?

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

Also, Sanders had a good performance in both Democratic primaries in these areas.

[Torie]

How is upstate NY being defined here?  Everything north of Westchester?

[jdk]

It's ultimately anti-Hillary than anything else.  Both Upstate NY and WI went heavily for Bernie in the primaries, and Bernie or any generic Democrat would have beaten Trump in those areas.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

It's ultimately anti-Hillary than anything else.  Both Upstate NY and WI went heavily for Bernie in the primaries, and Bernie or any generic Democrat would have beaten Trump in those areas.

-The irony is that upstate New York went heavily for Hillary in 2008, despite Obama getting nearly the same percentage of the vote as Bernie in NY state overall.

[Dr. Arch]

How is upstate NY being defined here?  Everything north of Westchester?

I got the numbers from Wulfric's post, so I'm not exactly sure.

[RI]

How is upstate NY being defined here?  Everything north of Westchester?

I got the numbers from Wulfric's post, so I'm not exactly sure.

Everything north of Westchester not including Rockland was the definition.

[Torie]

How is upstate NY being defined here?  Everything north of Westchester?

I got the numbers from Wulfric's post, so I'm not exactly sure.

Everything north of Westchester not including Rockland was the definition.

That is not bad, although Orange and Dutchess are technically in the NYC metro zone. In reality, it is the south half of Dutchess that has a suburban/exurban feel, starting with Hyde Park and everything to the south. For Orange, it is the eastern half of the county, ending at the county seat of Middletown.