"Louisiana are the most right-leaning states in the union” (Newport). The South reliably votes for Republicans and is often referred to as a Republican stronghold. In 2008, “Republican presidential candidate John McCain won Alabama by 21.6 percent” (Nypost). This highlights the regions right-leaning tendencies.
The South’s population also tends be rural. While the South has become more urbanized in recent years, its inhabitants are still more likely to live in small towns. Alabama and Mississippi are “59 percent” and “49.4 percent” urbanized respectively, but these averages are well below the national average of “80.7 percent” (Iowa State University). Another characteristic of Southern states concerns gun laws. Southern states, in particular, …show more content…
While the South largely favors the Republican Party, “Maryland has primarily been a blue state since the founding of the modern political parties” (270towin.com). The last time Maryland “turned red” was in 1988, and Maryland has subsequently turned blue in every election since. To highlight just how democratic Maryland has become, “Massachusetts and Maryland rank as the most democratic states” (Politico.com).
Maryland also distinguishes itself from the South through its urbanization. Maryland’s population is very urbanized, a whopping “87.2” percent of Marylanders live in cities. Historically, Maryland’s population has been far more urbanized than most of the South as well. In 1970, “76.6” percent of Marylanders lived in cities, above the national average of “73.6” percent. Only “44” percent of Alabama’s population in the same year were living in urban areas (Iowa State University). Maryland also distinguishes itself from the South because of its strong gun laws. After years of reform, “Maryland gun laws rank among the most stringent in the nation” (gunlaws.com). This could not be more different than Southern states, whose gun laws rank as some of the least restrictive in the nation, and are often vehemently opposed to gun control …show more content…
Maryland, on the other hand, consistently votes for democrats in wide margins. In the 2008 presidential election, North Carolina’s population voted “49.9 percent to Mr. Obama to 49.5 percent to Mr. McCain” (Steeyl). In Maryland, though, Obama won Maryland by “26 points” (270towin.com). The difference in voting patterns between Maryland and Southern states is
The South’s population also tends be rural. While the South has become more urbanized in recent years, its inhabitants are still more likely to live in small towns. Alabama and Mississippi are “59 percent” and “49.4 percent” urbanized respectively, but these averages are well below the national average of “80.7 percent” (Iowa State University). Another characteristic of Southern states concerns gun laws. Southern states, in particular, …show more content…
While the South largely favors the Republican Party, “Maryland has primarily been a blue state since the founding of the modern political parties” (270towin.com). The last time Maryland “turned red” was in 1988, and Maryland has subsequently turned blue in every election since. To highlight just how democratic Maryland has become, “Massachusetts and Maryland rank as the most democratic states” (Politico.com).
Maryland also distinguishes itself from the South through its urbanization. Maryland’s population is very urbanized, a whopping “87.2” percent of Marylanders live in cities. Historically, Maryland’s population has been far more urbanized than most of the South as well. In 1970, “76.6” percent of Marylanders lived in cities, above the national average of “73.6” percent. Only “44” percent of Alabama’s population in the same year were living in urban areas (Iowa State University). Maryland also distinguishes itself from the South because of its strong gun laws. After years of reform, “Maryland gun laws rank among the most stringent in the nation” (gunlaws.com). This could not be more different than Southern states, whose gun laws rank as some of the least restrictive in the nation, and are often vehemently opposed to gun control …show more content…
Maryland, on the other hand, consistently votes for democrats in wide margins. In the 2008 presidential election, North Carolina’s population voted “49.9 percent to Mr. Obama to 49.5 percent to Mr. McCain” (Steeyl). In Maryland, though, Obama won Maryland by “26 points” (270towin.com). The difference in voting patterns between Maryland and Southern states is