Colorado has had relatively unique presidential preferences over the past decades. In fact, the two states with the most similar voting records are in not located in the Western part of the United States. This is because the states that have voted similarly to Colorado were once reliable states for Republicans, but now often vote for Democrats.
5 States with similar presidential preferences to Colorado
- Virginia and Colorado are in completely different parts of the country, but they have voted remarkably similarly in presidential elections since 1960. In fact the only election they did not vote the same way was in 1992. Bill Clinton won Colorado, while George H.W. Bush won Virginia. However, in the next election Bob Dole won both states.
- New Hampshire is another state on the East coast. Colorado and New Hampshire were once considered swing states, but now tend to vote for Democratic candidates for president. The two states have disagreed in just two elections since 1960. New Hampshire voted for Democrats in 1996 and 2004, unlike Colorado.
- Nevada, like Colorado, is another landlocked state in the West region. The two states preferred the same candidates in all but two elections since 1964. The exceptions were that in 2024 Nevada preferred Donald Trump and in 1996 Nevada preferred Bill Clinton.
- New Mexico is directly to the south of Colorado, so it is not surprising it has voted in presidential elections similarly. New Mexico’s population has voted for Democrats more often than Colorado. The state voted for Bill Clinton twice, as well as Al Gore, while Colorado voted for Republican candidates.
- California is the only state that borders the Pacific Ocean on this list. Since 1960, California and Colorado have voted for the same presidential candidates in every election, with the exception of the three elections between 1996 and 2004. In those elections California voted for the Democratic ticket, while Colorado voted for the Republican.
5 States with least similar presidential preferences to Colorado
Virginia Presidential Voting History
2024: Kamala Harris (D)
2020: Joe Biden (D)
2016: Hillary Clinton (D)
2012: Barack Obama (D)
2008: Barack Obama (D)
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2000: George W. Bush (R)
1996: Bob Dole (R)
1992: Bill Clinton (D)
1988: George H. W. Bush (R)
1984: Ronald Reagan (R)
1980: Ronald Reagan (R)
1976: Gerald Ford (R)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1968: Richard Nixon (R)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
1960: Richard Nixon (R)