States with similar presidential preferences to North Carolina

Interestingly enough, the data shows that North Carolina does not tend to have clearly similar presidential preferences to most states in the Deep South. North Carolina has a higher degree of urbanization. Furthermore, North Carolina has a higher concentration of colleges and universities than is typical for the region.

5 States with similar presidential preferences to North Carolina

1. South Carolina and North Carolina only have two differences in their presidential preferences since 1960. In 2008, North Carolina unexpectedly voted for Obama. In 1964, it also voted for Lyndon B. Johnson instead of Barry Goldwater like South Carolina. Goldwater’s made opposition to the Civil Rights Act made him very popular in the Deep South.
2. Texas and North Carolina only have two differences as well, despite being in different parts of the country. In 2008, Texas voted in favor of John McCain, while in 1968, Texas voted for Hubert Humphrey, unlike North Carolina. This may be because he was the vice president to Lyndon B. Johnson, who was from Texas.
3. Indiana is part of the Midwest, but it has similar presidential preferences to North Carolina as well. In fact, the last time they didn’t vote for the same candidate was 1976, when Jimmy Carter won North Carolina, but Gerald Ford won Indiana. In 1960, John F. Kennedy won North Carolina, while Nixon won Indiana.
4. North Dakota is yet another Midwestern state on this list. The state almost always votes for candidates from the Republican party. North Carolina also heavily leans in favor of Republicans so this makes sense.
5. Oklahoma could be seen as either a Midwestern state or a Southern state so in some sense it fits in with the rest of the states on this list. Since 1960, Oklahoma and North Carolina have not voted for the same presidential candidate in three elections.

5 States with least similar presidential preferences to North Carolina

1. Washington
2. Minnesota
3. Rhode Island
4. Massachusetts
5. Hawaii

North Carolina Presidential Voting History

2020: Donald Trump (R)
2016: Donald Trump (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R)
2008: Barack Obama (D)
2004: George W. Bush (R)
2000: George W. Bush (R)
1996: Bob Dole (R)
1992: George H. W. Bush (R)
1988: George H. W. Bush (R)
1984: Ronald Reagan (R)
1980: Ronald Reagan (R)
1976: Jimmy Carter (D)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1968: Richard Nixon (R)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
1960: John F. Kennedy (D)