Most Partisan State?

[DownWithTheLeft]

What is it for both sides?

I'd say NJ is definetly the most blindly Democrat state and UT is the most blindly Republican state.  Any thoughts?  (sorry if I did this before)

[phk]

I think people in California are blindly partisan, though with our population having a consistent 55-45 divide it doesn't seem apparent at first.

[Aizen]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

[memphis]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

No way! Look at MS for example. Nearly all blacks vote Dem and nearly all whites vote Rep.

[Jaggerjack]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

No way! Look at MS for example. Nearly all blacks vote Dem and nearly all whites vote Rep.

Alabama also fits that criteria. Just take a look at the 2004 map.

[Verily]

Already stated. California or somewhere in the South (MS or AL most likely). New Jersey isn't hyperpartisan, just grumpy and not keen on conservative social policies.

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

There are no conservatives in New Jersey who could compare to the conservatives of California nor any liberals in New Jersey who could compare to the liberals of California.

[7,052,770]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

No way! Look at MS for example. Nearly all blacks vote Dem and nearly all whites vote Rep.

^^^ moreso in MS than any other state.

For example, GWB won 85% of MS white men and 89% of white women in 2004.  That's almost as high as blacks going for Democrats.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That's why I'm never stepping foot in MS. Even if for some reason I have to drive through it (very unlikely), I'd drive through the state without making a stop.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Already stated. California or somewhere in the South (MS or AL most likely). New Jersey isn't hyperpartisan, just grumpy and not keen on conservative social policies.

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

There are no conservatives in New Jersey who could compare to the conservatives of California nor any liberals in New Jersey who could compare to the liberals of California.

California and most of the south will still elect people of both parties to the state level.  As will every state in New England.  New Jersey stopped doing that in 1997 and I don't anticipate a Republican will be elected statewide there any time soon.

[Verily]

Already stated. California or somewhere in the South (MS or AL most likely). New Jersey isn't hyperpartisan, just grumpy and not keen on conservative social policies.

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

There are no conservatives in New Jersey who could compare to the conservatives of California nor any liberals in New Jersey who could compare to the liberals of California.

California and most of the south will still elect people of both parties to the state level.  As will every state in New England.  New Jersey stopped doing that in 1997 and I don't anticipate a Republican will be elected statewide there any time soon.

When was the last time a Republican in Schwarzenegger's or Weld's mold ran in NJ? You guessed it... 1997.

[7,052,770]

That's why I'm never stepping foot in MS. Even if for some reason I have to drive through it (very unlikely), I'd drive through the state without making a stop.

Don't worry, we'll change.

And if you do find yourself in MS, come visit me in Starkville.

[MaC]

What is it for both sides?

I'd say NJ is definetly the most blindly Democrat state and UT is the most blindly Republican state.  Any thoughts?  (sorry if I did this before)

nah, Massachusetts would be the most blindly Dem.  Out of 10 congressmen they have no Republicans.  Probably the highest amount of districts for a state to have 100% of the seats go to one party.

[MaC]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

No way! Look at MS for example. Nearly all blacks vote Dem and nearly all whites vote Rep.

^^^ moreso in MS than any other state.

For example, GWB won 85% of MS white men and 89% of white women in 2004.  That's almost as high as blacks going for Democrats.

Harry, I heard (possibly from you) that it's mostly younger blacks that vote liberal and older blacks are more conservative (although still reluctant to vote Republican).  Sound statement?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

When was the last time a Republican in Schwarzenegger's or Weld's mold ran in NJ? You guessed it... 1997.

Diane Allen, 2002.  I'd also argue that Forrester's mangled and poorly run campaigns were moderate -- but highly uninspiring.

Even a liberal Republican would probably get tossed around like a beanbag in New Jersey.  People assumed Tom Kean Jr. was far more moderate than he really was, and look how far that got him.

nah, Massachusetts would be the most blindly Dem.  Out of 10 congressmen they have no Republicans.  Probably the highest amount of districts for a state to have 100% of the seats go to one party.

That's true.  The State GOP was on life support when Romney won his upset in 2002; its flatlined since then.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yes, Massachusetts is the only state with a number of congressional districts in the double digits that has all held by one party.

[7,052,770]

The most polarized state is definitley NJ.

No way! Look at MS for example. Nearly all blacks vote Dem and nearly all whites vote Rep.

^^^ moreso in MS than any other state.

For example, GWB won 85% of MS white men and 89% of white women in 2004.  That's almost as high as blacks going for Democrats.

Harry, I heard (possibly from you) that it's mostly younger blacks that vote liberal and older blacks are more conservative (although still reluctant to vote Republican).  Sound statement?

Yes, I believe that statement is sound.  Also, young blacks are actually voting in Mississippi, at much higher than expected rates than, say, young whites or older blacks.  That explains how Kerry won the under 30's in Mississippi.

[Smash255]

Depends.  California has very Partisan people from both sides.  Mississippi and Alabama are very racially partisan on the Presidential level.  Though Rhode Island and Mass are the most partisan as a whole state,  look at their state Assembly's and Senate.

MA State Senate 34-5 in favor of the Dems 1 vacant
MA State Assembly 141-19 Dems

RI  State Senate 33-5 Dems
RI State Assembly 60-15 Dems

[The Duke]

California is not excessively partisan.  If it were, Arnold would not have been re-elected by 17%.  Phil Angelides is the kind of candidate we would expect to win a really partisan state, especially in a Democratic year.  Arnold would probably not have ever been Governor to begin with, because an excessively partisan state would not have recalled Gray Davis in the first place.

California is Democratic because of abortion more than partisanship.  There are about 55% of voters who will never vote for a pro-life candidate,and since the Republican party here is no less conservative than the national party (Unlike the GOP in some liberal states) we tend to nominate pro-life candidates who are way too conservative for the state (Bill Simon in 2002).  When we nominate people who are a better ideological fit for the state.  No matter what state you're talking about, if one party keeps nominating peple who don't fit the ideology of the state, they're not going to win, and this isn't a sign of partisanship by voters its a sign of incomeptence by one state party organization.

I would determine partisanship this way: In what states would a capable, well financed, scandal free candidate from the minority party who is still a reasonable fit for the ideology of their state still probably lose to a bumbling scandal ridden candidate from the majority party?  States like Utah have ideological reasons for overwhelmingly favoring one party, so I wouldn't include those.

My picks: New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, and Michigan

[HardRCafé]

Massachusetts and Idaho.

[CultureKing]

my guess would be Idaho and Alaska, they both have extremes on either sides (though with much larger conservative bases than liberal)

[bgwah]

Most partisan state overall would be Idaho, in my opinion. I mean, comon... Bill Sali won an open seat in the more-liberal district against a credible challenger in a Democratic year.

As for Democratic, I am not sure. Even Massachusetts and New York had Republican Governors until this year...  But I suppose I'll just go ahead and say Massachusetts, with honorable mentions going to New York and New Jersey.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I think some are confusing liberal/conservative with Democrat/Republican.  California very well might have the most staunch liberals, but electing Arnold shows they are not blindly partisan.

[Jaggerjack]

Umm... Guys, don't forget Angelides wasn't exactly a decent candidate, especially if he could only win Santa Cruz, Alameda, Marin, and LA counties (plus, obviously, SF)

[The Duke]

Umm... Guys, don't forget Angelides wasn't exactly a decent candidate, especially if he could only win Santa Cruz, Alameda, Marin, and LA counties (plus, obviously, SF)

That just proves CA is't that partisan.  If the Republican is clearly superior to the Democrat, we vote for him.

Compare to New Jersey, which will elect any crooked scumbag with a D next to his name.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Most partisan state overall would be Idaho, in my opinion. I mean, comon... Bill Sali won an open seat in the more-liberal district against a credible challenger in a Democratic year.

That doesn't prove partisanship, in fact that race actually serves more as a counter-example. Larry Grant got 45% in a district Kerry barely broke 30% in. That shows there were plenty of Republicans willing to cross lines to vote for him. If Sali had gotten elected in say a 55% Bush district, it would be good evidence, since it shows how many Republicans are willing to vote for anyone with an R next to their name, but that's clearly not the case in Idaho.

In NJ, the Republicans usually can get 45% no problem, but they can never get that extra 5%. That's partisanship. Very few swing voters.