Dear Readers: This is the latest edition of Notes on the State of Politics, which features short updates on elections and politics. Today, we will be exploring the future of partisan politics through the lens of red and blue state maps.
Kevin Priola was a Republican before he could even vote. Inspired by Ronald Reagan, he preregistered with the GOP at age 17. He represents a common trend among American voters: political affiliations often stem from early influences.
Political biases are omnipresent, but what we don't fully understand yet is how they come about in the first place. One contributing factor is undoubtedly the prevalence of red and blue state maps. These maps create a sense of "us vs. them" mentality and contribute to political polarization.
A few weeks ago, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene did what she does best: create controversy and draw outsized attention to herself. In this case, she posted a map of the United States with the caption "my two favorite colors." The map was split into red and blue states, further perpetuating the idea that America is divided along partisan lines.
Most of the states we live in appear to be solidly Republican or Democrat. These maps offer a chance to look beneath the surface at the nuances of each state's political landscape. For example, while Texas is often thought of as a solidly red state, there are significant pockets of blue voters in cities like Austin and Houston.
Election maps showing states as only red or blue contribute to voters' sense of political polarization, according to research that included brain scans of participants. The study found that the brain's reward centers light up when participants see their preferred candidate win, contributing to a sense of tribalism.
The partisan composition of state legislatures refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in each state Senate and state House of Representatives. This is an important factor in state politics, as it determines which party will have the power to pass legislation and control the agenda.
It's Election Day 2022 in Sheboygan, and voters in this majority blue city once again have no chance of electing a Democrat to legislative office. This is because of the way district lines are drawn, a practice known as gerrymandering. Gerrymandering allows politicians to choose their voters, rather than the other way around.
In politics, always expect the unexpected, and historical voting data only acts as a guide. While it may seem like certain states are locked into a particular political affiliation, the truth is that political winds can change quickly. Just look at Georgia, which went from solidly red to narrowly blue in just a few years.
When it comes to red and blue state maps, it's important to remember that they are a simplification of a complex political landscape. While they may be useful for quick reference, they should not be used as the sole determinant of a state's political makeup. By looking beyond the colors on a map, we can gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of American politics.
