Arkansas has often favored the Republican Party in presidential elections. Since 1968, the state has only voted for a Democrat on three occasions. Of the five states with the most similar voting records in presidential elections, most are also in the Southern region. Four are also landlocked.
5 States with similar presidential preferences to Arkansas
- Louisiana is located just to the south of Arkansas. Since 1960, these states have only voted differently in presidential elections once. In 1964, Arkansas voted for Lyndon B. Johnson, while Louisiana voted for Barry Goldwater.
- Tennessee and Arkansas are another pair of states that border each other. Since 1960, the two states have only not preferred the same presidential ticket twice. Once in 1960 and once in 1968. The difference is that Tennessee voted for Richard Nixon twice, unlike Arkansas.
- Missouri borders both Arkansas and Tennessee so it is not a surprise it is on this list as well. These states have voted for the same presidential tickets in every election since 1956, with the exception of 1968. In that year Arkansas voted for George Wallace, while Missouri voted for Nixon.
- West Virginia is another mountainous and forested landlocked state in the South. Since 1992, these states have voted for the same presidential candidates. However, Arkansas and West Virginia differ in the 1988 and 1980 elections. In those elections Arkansas voted for their Republican candidate instead.
- Kentucky is located between West Virginia and Arkansas. Kentucky and Arkansas have voted for the same presidential candidates in every presidential election since 1972. Both states voted for Bill Clinton twice and Donald Trump three times.
5 States with least similar presidential preferences to Arkansas
Arkansas Presidential Voting History
2024: Donald Trump (R)
2020: Donald Trump (R)
2016: Donald Trump (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R)
2008: John McCain (R)
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2000: George W. Bush (R)
1996: Bill Clinton (D)
1992: Bill Clinton (D)
1988: George H.W. Bush (R)
1984: Ronald Reagan (R)
1980: Ronald Reagan (R)
1976: Jimmy Carter (D)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1968: George Wallace (I)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
1960: John F. Kennedy (D)