The data shows that West Virginia has a unique history in its preference for presidential candidates. As a result, no states have particularly similar voting records to West Virginia. In the past, the state used to vote for candidates from the Democratic Party, but recently the state has been won easily by Republicans.
5 States with similar presidential preferences to West Virginia
- Arkansas is another landlocked and hilly state in the Southern region. 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.
- Tennessee and West Virginia have voted for the same presidential candidates in 12 out of the last 16 elections. However, Nixon won Tennessee in 1960 and 1968, while West Virginia preferred the Democratic candidate in those respective elections.
- Missouri is another state on the border between the North and the South. Since 1960, they have voted differently in three different elections: 1968, 1980, and 1988. In each election the Republican won Missouri, while the Democrat won West Virginia.
- Texas and West Virginia have voted for the same presidential candidates in 12 out of the last 16 elections. One big difference is that George H.W. Bush (who represented Texas) won Texas twice, while Michael Dukakis and Bill Clinton won West Virginia.
- Louisiana borders both Texas and Arkansas, two states on this list. Like Louisiana, West Virginia was one of the few states in the South that voted for both Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump twice. However, Louisiana voted for George Wallace in 1968 and Barry Goldwater in 1964, due to opposition to civil rights reforms.
5 States with least similar presidential preferences to West Virginia
West Virginia Presidential Voting History
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: Michael Dukakis (D)
1984: Ronald Reagan (R)
1980: Jimmy Carter (D)
1976: Jimmy Carter (D)
1972: Richard Nixon (R)
1968: Hubert Humphrey (D)
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
1960: John F. Kennedy (D)