The classification of American states into colors has been known since the end of the 20th century (foreign press)
Washington
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The votes of less than a quarter of a million American citizens decide the results of the presidential elections in the United States, despite more than 150 million voters voting there.
This is due to the presence of democratic states in loyalty and orientation, and their counterparts are Republican states on the other side.
Presidential candidates do not bother to conduct promotional campaigns or hold election conferences in states that are guaranteed to be won or lost, and resources and energy are saved to compete in swing states that can vote for either party.
Since the end of the 20th century, it has been common to refer to states that vote for the Republican Party in presidential elections as red, while states that lean toward the Democratic Party are indicated by blue.
The reference was expanded to the two colors to distinguish between the liberal and conservative camps, and the two colors also distinguish between urban areas in cities, and rural areas and suburbs within one state.
None of America's 50 states is devoid of Republican and Democratic elements and trends, or conservative or liberal groups at the same time, and this is clearly demonstrated by the results of the presidential elections.
For example, the highest percentage obtained by current President Joe Biden in the 2020 elections was in the state of Vermont, where he won 66.1% of the total votes, while Donald Trump achieved the highest percentage of Republican votes in the state of Wyoming with 69.9% of the votes.
States in which the proportion of blue supporters is very close to red supporters are considered “swing states” and awarded the color purple.
The electoral map appears in one color for each state due to the application of the “winner takes all” system, which is the system used by all states in the electoral college, with the exception of only two states, which are Nebraska and Maine.
The perception of some states as “blue” or “red” has been strengthened by a degree of partisan stability over the past years, as 37 states have not changed their partisan orientation since the 2000 elections.
Joe Biden won all six swing states in the 2020 elections (Al Jazeera)
Blue states
“Blue” states, defined by their consistent support for the Democratic Party in recent election cycles, are characterized by a commitment to progressive values and policies.
These states usually advocate issues such as environmental protection, social justice, health care reform, and protection of non-traditional social orientations.
The continued alignment with the Democratic Party reflects a broader ideological position that prioritizes liberal principles and seeks to address societal issues through progressive policy initiatives.
In recent years, the Democratic Party has achieved notable success in states along the East and West coasts, as well as in the Midwest.
The most prominent of these states are California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington.
These regions are characterized by large populations, diverse economies, and significant political influence at the national level, and have emerged as strongholds of the Democratic Party.
The party's success in these states reflects the resonance of its policies and values with the dynamic demographics and progressive sentiments prevalent in these influential regions.
Red states
"Red" states are characterized by the prevailing popularity and electoral success of the Republican Party.
These states are located mostly in the South, Midwest, and Great Plains regions of the country.
Red states are characterized by a conservative political orientation, and emphasize principles such as smaller government, individual freedom, and low taxes in their policies.
The political landscape in these states is often shaped by a large rural population, which influences their attitudes and priorities.
Moreover, red states often boast a higher percentage of evangelical Christians and other religious conservatives.
This demographic tends to support socially conservative policies, including opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.
The distinctive combination of geographic location, political philosophy, and cultural factors collectively contribute to the distinctive identity of the red states within the American political landscape.
Among the most prominent states that are strongly entrenched in the Republican camp are Alabama, Alaska, Florida, and Ohio.
Trump won Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania in 2016 (American press)
Purple states
Swing states, those that lack consistent loyalty to either political party in national elections, stand as pivotal battlegrounds for presidential candidates.
Presidential candidates spend time campaigning in these states, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television and radio ads.
Navigating the dynamic electoral landscape requires constant scrutiny by presidential campaigns and political analysts.
While past swing states can be distinguished by examining historical closeness of votes, identifying potential swing states in future elections requires a careful approach.
Estimates and forecasts depend on factors such as previous election results, opinion polls, prevailing political trends, various developments since the last election, and the strengths or weaknesses of the candidates.
The map of swing states changes with each election cycle, evolving in response to the candidates and their policies.
These changes can range from dramatic shifts to subtle adjustments, emphasizing the changing nature of electoral dynamics and the importance of adaptability in political strategy.
There are 6 states expected to swing in the 2024 elections: Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Democrat Joe Biden won all six states in the 2020 elections, and Republican Donald Trump won Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania in 2016.
States change color
States like Florida and Ohio were considered legitimate battlegrounds but have trended more Republican in recent years, while formerly red states like Virginia have leaned toward the Democratic Party, while Georgia and Arizona have turned very competitive, and were won by Democrat Joe Biden. In the 2020 elections.
Population changes contribute significantly to changing the voting pattern, as the numbers of Hispanic Americans increased in Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, which allowed these states to vote more for the Democrats.
In some cases, economic changes, globalization, and the decline in local manufacturing rates in favor of cheap factories in Mexico, China, India, etc., led to the anger of factory workers and their voting pattern changed to the Republican Party because of its adoption of protectionist policies that protect their jobs within American borders.
The colors red and blue are not officially associated with either party, and neither of them chose any color to distinguish it from the other. In fact, some Republicans argue that the party should be associated with the color blue, as is the case in most centrist parties that lean to the right, especially in European countries.
Some trace the origin of the Republican Party's association with the color red to the Civil War era in the 1860s, when the color red was associated with the federal North, while the color blue was used to indicate the areas of secessionist southerners.
Much criticism is directed at the classification of blue and red to indicate the state's tendency, especially since there are cases in which the state is divided between its tendency toward a presidential candidate, and its tendency in the opposite direction in the congressional elections.
The states of Arkansas and West Virginia witnessed this division in 2004, when Republican candidate George W. Bush won them in the presidential elections, but the Democrats at that time won all the seats in the two states in the Senate and the majority of the elected executive positions in those states, including the position of governor of the state. .
In his speech before the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004, Barack Obama spoke about the issue of blue and red states, saying: “Experts and commentators like to dissect our country into red and blue states: red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats, but I have bad news for these commentators. We... We worship the same God, we are one people, we all pledge allegiance to the Constitution and the American flag, and we all defend the United States of America.”
Source: Al Jazeera