Virginia is a Southern state, however it has not voted like a Southern state in presidential elections. In fact, the data shows that none of the five states with the most similar voting records are in the South. Interestingly enough, three of the five are located in the Western region of the United States. This is because the states that have voted similarly to Virginia were once reliable states for Republicans, but now often vote for Democrats.
5 States with similar presidential preferences to Virginia
- Colorado and Virginia 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.
- 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 exception was that in 1992 and 1996 Bill Clinton won Nevada, but Colorado voted twice for Republican candidates for president instead.
- Indiana and Virginia voted for the same presidential ticket in every election from 1948 to 2008. However, since then Virginia has shifted its political preferences significantly towards the Democratic Party, due to the expansion of the suburbs in Virgnia outside of Washington DC, which tend to be more liberal than the rest of the state.
- New Hampshire is the only state on the East coast on this list. Virginia 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 three elections since 1960. New Hampshire voted for Democrats more often than Virginia, as Bill Clinton won the state twice.
- New Mexico and Virginia have very little in common with each other on the surface. However, these states often vote for the same candidate in presidential elections. New Mexico’s population has voted for Democrats more often than Virginia. The state voted for Bill Clinton twice, as well as Al Gore, while Virginia voted for Republican candidates.
5 States with least similar presidential preferences to Virginia
Virginia Presidential Voting History
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: George H. W. Bush (R)
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)