Western United States

Politics

The clichéd image of the West might suggest that the politics of its inhabitants

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would typically be conservative. However, the West is far from unified. Major urban centers, particularly along the Pacific Coast, lean toward the Democratic Party, although their suburban areas tend toward a bipartisan makeup. The interior states of the Rocky Mountains and the deserts are more heavily Republican. Although outside of Utah and Arizona, the Republicans of the west tend to be more libertarian than the religious right leaning of many Republicans in the East. As the fastest-growing demographic group, Latinos are hotly contested by both parties, but currently lean Democratic; the subject of illegal immigration remains a major issue in the political importance of this segment of the populace. In terms of the electoral college, California and Hawaii are typically strong blue states (Democratic), and Washington leans Democratic.

Related Topics:
Conservative - Democratic Party - Republican - Utah - Arizona - Libertarian - Religious right - Latino - Illegal immigration - Electoral college - California - Hawaii - Blue states - Washington

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Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska are generally red states (Republican), and Colorado and Arizona lean Republican.

Related Topics:
Idaho - Utah - Wyoming - Montana - Alaska - Red states - Colorado - Arizona

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Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico are hotly contested swing states.

Related Topics:
Oregon - Nevada - New Mexico - Swing state

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The region is also renowned for libertarian political thought. For example, the majority of its states have legalized medicinal marijuana (all but New Mexico and Utah) and some forms of gambling (all but Utah); Oregon has legalized euthanasia; some counties in Nevada have legalized prostitution; and there is less resistance to the legal recognition of same-sex unions (California and Hawaii recognize them and only 28% of all western residents favor no legal recognition contrasted to 48% of southerners). Southern states such as Texas that were considered western by the Census in the past are more conservative, examples being the Texan laws restricting sex toys.

Related Topics:
Libertarian - Medicinal marijuana - Gambling - Euthanasia - Prostitution - Same-sex unions - Sex toy

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