Political party strength in U.S. states

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Map of relative party strengths in each U.S. state after the 2020 presidential election 2020 Cook PVI.svg
Map of relative party strengths in each U.S. state after the 2020 presidential election

Political party strength in U.S. states is the level of representation of the various political parties in the United States in each statewide elective office providing legislators to the state and to the U.S. Congress and electing the executives at the state (U.S. state governor) and national (U.S. President) level.

Contents

History

Throughout most of the 20th century, although the Republican and Democratic parties alternated in power at a national level, some states were so overwhelmingly dominated by one party that nomination was usually tantamount to election. This was especially true in the Solid South, where the Democratic Party was dominant for the better part of a century, from the end of Reconstruction in the late 1870s, through the period of Jim Crow Laws into the 1960s. Conversely, the rock-ribbed New England states of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire were dominated by the Republican Party, as were some Midwestern states like Iowa and North Dakota.

However, in the 1970s and 1980s the increasingly conservative Republican Party gradually overtook the Democrats in the southeast. The Democrats' support in the formerly Solid South had been eroded during the vast cultural, political, and economic upheaval that surrounded the 1960s. By the 1990s, the Republican Party had completed the transition into the southeast's dominant political party, despite typically having fewer members due to the prevalence of Republican voting generational Democrats. In New England, the opposite trend occurred; the former Republican strongholds of Maine and Vermont became solidly Democratic, as did formerly Republican areas of New Jersey, New York, California, and Connecticut.

In the U.S. state legislative elections of 2010, the Republican Party held an outright majority of 3,890 seats (53% of total) compared to the Democratic party's 3,450 (47% of total) seats elected on a partisan ballot. [1] Of the 7,382 seats in all of the state legislatures combined, independents and third parties account for only 16 members, not counting the 49 members of the Nebraska Legislature, which is the only legislature in the nation to hold non-partisan elections to determine its members. As a result of the 2010 elections, Republicans took control of an additional 20 state legislative chambers, giving them majority control of both chambers in 25 states versus the Democrats' majority control of both chambers in only 17 states, with 7 states having split or inconclusive control of both chambers (not including Nebraska). Before the 2010 elections, it was Democrats who controlled both chambers in 27 states versus the Republican party having total control in only 14 states, with 8 states divided, and Nebraska being nonpartisan. [2]

Since this election, Republicans have maintained a majority of state legislative chambers and seats, as well as governorships nationwide. As of 2024, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 17 Democratic trifectas, and 10 divided governments with both parties holding either legislative chambers or the governorship. However, following the 2022 elections, Democratic trifectas represent a majority of the national population. [3]

Current party strength

Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI)

Another metric measuring party preference is the Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI). Cook PVIs are calculated by comparing a state's average Democratic Party or Republican Party share of the two-party presidential vote in the past two presidential elections to the nation's average share of the same. PVIs for the states over time can be used to show the trends of U.S. states towards, or away from, one party or the other. [4]

Gallup

On December 17, 2020, Gallup polling found that 31% of Americans identified as Democrats, 25% identified as Republicans, and 41% as Independent. [5] Additionally, polling showed that 50% are either "Democrats or Democratic leaners" and 39% are either "Republicans or Republican leaners" when Independents were asked, "do you lean more to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party?" [5]

In 2018, the number of competitive states according to opinion polling dropped down to 10, the lowest number since 2008. From 2017 to 2018, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Pennsylvania moved from competitive to lean Democratic, while West Virginia, Louisiana, and Indiana moved from competitive to lean Republican, and Nebraska moved from lean Republican to competitive. [6]

As of 2018, Massachusetts was the most Democratic state, with 56% of residents identifying as Democrats, while only 27% of residents identified as Republicans. However, it is important to note that Washington D.C. (while not a state) has 3 electoral votes and 76% of residents identify as Democrats, while 6% identify as Republicans. Wyoming was the most Republican state, with 59% of residents identifying as Republican, and only 25% of residents identifying as Democrat. [6]

Partisan lean of U.S. states according to Gallup polling [6]
 Number of U.S. States
YearSolid DemLean DemCompetitiveLean GOPSolid GOPNet Dem
20082961014+30
200923101214+28
20101391855+12
201111715710+1
20121361939+7
201312519212+3
201411618510+2
201511316812−6
201613115714−7
201715415313+3
201814810513+4

Voter registration

The state Democratic or Republican Party controls the governorship, the state legislative houses, and U.S. Senate representation. Nebraska's legislature is unicameral (i.e., it has only one legislative house) and is officially non-partisan, though party affiliation still has an unofficial influence on the legislative process.

The simplest measure of party strength in a state voting population is the affiliation totals from voter registration from the websites of the Secretaries of State or state Boards of Elections for the 30 states and the District of Columbia that allow registered voters to indicate a party preference when registering to vote. 20 states [a] do not include party preference with voter registration. The party affiliations in the party control table are obtained from state party registration figures where indicated. [7]

As of 2024, a plurality of voters in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine are Democratic, while a majority of voters in Maryland and Washington DC are Democratic. Meanwhile, a plurality of voters in Arizona, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Florida are Republicans. A majority of voters in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Oklahoma are Republicans. In Oregon, Colorado, North Carolina, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Alaska, and New Hampshire, a plurality of voters are Independents. While in Massachusetts, a majority of voters are independents. [8]

Voter Registration Totals [9]
Party nameTotal
Democratic 48,019,985
Republican 35,732,180
Independent 34,699,567
American Independent 715,712
Libertarian 710,123
Independence Party of New York 388,779
Green 240,198
Independent Party of Florida 195,333
Independent Party of Oregon 134,996
Constitution 131,901
Independent Party of Louisiana110,653
Peace & Freedom 110,576
Independent American Party58,331
Working Families 55,352
United Independent 20,976
Alaskan Independence 18,983
Common Sense Party17,322
New Jersey Conservative 16,104
Independent Party of Delaware 9,807
Socialist Party USA 9,198
Natural Law 6,549
Reform 5,900
Women's Equality 4,468
Approval Voting 4,046
Independent American Party of New Mexico3,889
Unity 3,215
Better for America 3,180
Oregon Progressive 2,928
Working Class 2,693
United Utah 2,285
Party for Socialism and Liberation 1,369
Bread and Roses 1,127
Ecology Party of Florida 1,108

Party strength by state

Local and regional political circumstances often influence party strength.

U.S. state party control as of December2024

State2024 presidential
election
GovernorState SenateState HouseSenior
U.S. Senator
Junior
U.S. Senator
U.S. House of Representatives
Alabama RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 27–8Republican 76–29RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 6–1
Alaska RepublicanRepublicanCoalition 17–3 [b] Coalition 23–17 [b] RepublicanRepublicanDemocratic 1–0
Arizona RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 16–14Republican 31–29Independent [c] DemocraticRepublican 6–3
Arkansas RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 29–6Republican 82–18RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 4–0
California DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 32–8Democratic 62–18DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 40–12
Colorado DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 23–12Democratic 46–19DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 5–3
Connecticut DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 24–12Democratic 98–53DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 5–0
Delaware DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 15–6Democratic 26–15DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 1–0
Florida RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 28–12Republican 84–36RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 20–8
Georgia RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 33–23Republican 101–79DemocraticDemocraticRepublican 9–5
Hawaii DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 23–2Democratic 45–6DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 2–0
Idaho RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 28–7Republican 59–11RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 2–0
Illinois DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 40–19Democratic 78–40DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 14–3
Indiana RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 40–10Republican 70–30RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 7–2
Iowa RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 34–16Republican 64–36RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 4–0
Kansas RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 29–11Republican 85–40RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 3–1
Kentucky RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 31–7Republican 80–20RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 5–1
Louisiana RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 27–12Republican 71–33–1RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 5–1
Maine Democratic/ Republican (2nd District)DemocraticDemocratic 22–13Democratic 76-73-2RepublicanIndependent [c] Democratic 2–0
Maryland DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 34–13Democratic 102–39DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 7–1
Massachusetts DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 36–4Democratic 134–25–1DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 9–0
Michigan RepublicanDemocraticDemocratic 20–18Democratic 56–54DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 7–6
Minnesota Democratic (DFL)Democratic (DFL)DFL 34–33DFL 70–64Democratic (DFL)Democratic (DFL)Tied 4–4
Mississippi RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 36–16Republican 79–41–2RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 3–1
Missouri RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 24–10Republican 111–52RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 6–2
Montana RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 34–16Republican 68–32DemocraticRepublicanRepublican 2–0
Nebraska Republican/ Democratic (2nd District)Republican Unicameral Nonpartisan Legislature [d]
(De facto Republican 32–17)
RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 3–0
Nevada RepublicanRepublicanDemocratic 13–8Democratic 28–14DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 3–1
New Hampshire DemocraticRepublicanRepublican 16–8Republican 222–178DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 2–0
New Jersey DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 25–15Democratic 52–28DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 9–3
New Mexico DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 27–15Democratic 45–25DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 3–0
New York DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 42–21Democratic 101–49DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 16–10
North Carolina RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 30–20Republican 72–48RepublicanRepublicanTied 7–7
North Dakota RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 43–4Republican 82–12RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 1–0
Ohio RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 26–7Republican 67–31DemocraticRepublicanRepublican 10–5
Oklahoma RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 40–8Republican 81–20RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 5–0
Oregon DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 17–12–1Democratic 35–25DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 4–2
Pennsylvania RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 28–22Democratic 102–101DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 9–8
Rhode Island DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 33–5Democratic 65–10DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 2–0
South Carolina RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 30–16Republican 88–36RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 6–1
South Dakota RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 31–4Republican 63–7RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 1–0
Tennessee RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 27–6Republican 75–24RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 8–1
Texas RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 19–12Republican 86–64RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 25–13
Utah RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 21–8Republican 61–14RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 4–0
Vermont DemocraticRepublicanDemocratic 22–7–1Democratic 104–38–5–3Independent [c] DemocraticDemocratic 1–0
Virginia DemocraticRepublicanDemocratic 21–19Democratic 51-49DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 6–5
Washington DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 29–20Democratic 58–40DemocraticDemocraticDemocratic 8–2
West Virginia RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 31–3Republican 89–11Independent [c] RepublicanRepublican 2–0
Wisconsin RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 22–11Republican 64–35RepublicanDemocraticRepublican 6–2
Wyoming RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 28–2Republican 57–5RepublicanRepublicanRepublican 1–0
Totals
Presidency
(after 2020 Election)
U.S. Senate
(after 2022 Elections)
U.S. House of
Representatives (after 2022 Elections)
Governorships
(after 2023 Elections)
Majority in
State Senate (after 2023 Elections)
Majority in
State House (after 2023 Elections)
Democratic 306–232Democratic 51–49 [c] Republican 222–213Republican 27–23Republican 29–20–1 [b] Republican 27–21–1 [b]
  1. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
  2. 1 2 3 4 A coalition of 19 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 2 Independents make up the majority caucus in the Alaska House of Representatives, while a grand coalition of 9 Democrats and 8 Republicans make up the majority caucus in the Alaska Senate.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Joe Manchin (I-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), are Independent Democrats and, as such, are included in Democrats' total number of Senators for the purposes of calculating partisan breakdown in this article.
  4. While the Nebraska Legislature is technically non-partisan, the majority of its senators are de facto Republicans.

State government

GovernorGovernors and Legislatures
US state governors by political party as of 17 December 2024
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Democratic
Republican
New Progressive United States Governors map.svg
US state governors by political party as of 17 December 2024
  Democratic
  Republican
  New Progressive
US state governments (governor and legislature) by party control as of 17 December 2024
Democratic control
Republican control
Split control US state Legislature and Governor Control.svg
US state governments (governor and legislature) by party control as of 17 December 2024
  Democratic control
  Republican control
  Split control

Historical party strength

The number of state legislatures controlled by each party. [10]

YearDemocratsRepublicansSplit
193821196
194021178
194219243
194419243
194617254
1948191611
195019216
195216264
195419207
195622195
195830711
196027156
196225176
196432610
196623169
196820208
197023169
197226167
19743748
197635410
197831117
198029155
198234114
1984261112
198628912
198829812
199030613
199225816
1994181912
1996201811
1998201712
2000161815
2002181714
2003162112
2004172111
200520209
200724169
2008231512
200927158
201027158
201115278
201215296
201317285
201417285
201511318
201611318
201712326
201813325
201918302
202019292
202118302
202217303
202319283
202420282

The state governorships controlled by each party. [10]

YearDemocratsRepublicansIndependent
19222622
19232721
19242325
19262028
19271929
19281632
193024222
193126202
193236102
19343792
19363873
19373963
19382919
19402820
19422424
19432226
19442523
19462325
19472424
19482820
19502226
19521830
19531929
19542721
19562820
19583515
19603416
19623416
19643317
19662525
19672426
19681931
19691832
19702921
19713020
19723119
19733218
197436131
197637121
19783218
19793119
19802723
19823416
19833515
19843416
19862624
19882822
19892921
199028202
199230182
199329192
199419301
199518311
199617321
199817312
199918302
200019292
200121272
20022426
20042228
20062822
20082921
20092624
201026231
201120291
201220291
20132030
20142129
201518311
201618311
201715341
201816331
20192327
20202426
20212327
20222228
20232426
20242327

State government full or split control, by party.

YearDemocratsRepublicansSplit
197727122
197827122
197919526
198018527
198116826
198216826
198324422
198424422
198517429
198617429
198715728
198814630
198915530
199016529
199116331
199215332
199318329
199416430
199581527
199661430
199751233
199851332
199981527
200091625
200181428
200291229
200381230
200481230
200581230
200681230
2007151025
2008141026
2009181022
2010171023
2011112217
2012112415
2013132512
2014132413
201572419
201672320
201752520
201872518
2019142214
2020152114
2021152312
2022142313
2023172211
2024172310
Graphical summary

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References

  1. "Republicans Exceed Expectations in 2010 State Legislative Elections". National Conference of State Legislatures. November 3, 2010. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
  2. Hansen, Karen (December 2010). "Red Tide: December 2010 – A GOP wave washed over state legislatures on Election Day". National Conference of State Legislatures . Retrieved 2014-12-03.
  3. Rakich, Nathaniel (November 17, 2022). "The Midterms Made State Governments Bluer". FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. "Partisan Voter Index by State, 1994–2014" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-27. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  5. 1 2 "Gallup Historical Trends: Party Affiliation". Gallup News. September 20, 2007. Retrieved 2020-05-14. In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an independent?
  6. 1 2 3 "Democratic States Exceed Republican States by Four in 2018". Gallup.com. Gallup Inc. February 22, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
  7. For example, for earlier 2014 registration figures, see: Blumenthal, Mark; Edwards-Levy, Ariel (May 27, 2014). "HUFFPOLLSTER: A State-By-State Guide To Party Registration". Huffington Post . Retrieved 2014-12-23..
  8. "Partisan affiliations of registered voters". March 16, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-16..
  9. Winger, Richard (December 1, 2021). "Chart on Page Five". Ballot Access News. 37 (7): 3, 5.
  10. 1 2 "U.S. Census Bureau, The 2012 Statistical Abstract, The National Data Book, Elections: Gubernatorial and State Legislatures (see: Tables 416 and 418)" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. August 2011. pp. 260–261. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2020-05-14.