Blue Metros, Red States
The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America's Swing States
Abstract
Assessing where the red/blue political line lies in swing states and how it is shifting
Democratic-leaning urban areas in states that otherwise lean Republican is an increasingly important phenomenon in American politics, one that will help shape elections and policy for decades to come. Blue Metros, Red States explores this phenomenon by analyzing demographic trends, voting patterns, economic data, and social characteristics of twenty-seven major metropolitan areas in thirteen swing statesstates that will ultimately decide who is elected president and the party that controls each chamber of Congress.
The book's key finding is a sharp split between different types of suburbs in swing states. Close-in suburbs that support denser mixeduse projects and transit such as light rail mostly vote for Democrats. More distant suburbs that feature mainly large-lot, single-family detached houses and lack mass transit often vote for Republicans. The book locates the red/blue dividing line and assesses the electoral state of play in every swing state. This red/blue political line is rapidly shifting, however, as suburbs urbanize and grow more demographically diverse. Blue Metros, Red States is especially timely as the 2020elections draw near.
Schlagworte
Nevada North Carolina Suburbs Sun Belt Swing States Texas Red States Rust Belt Urban-Rural Divide Voting Patterns UNL Urban Areas Metropolitan Areas Demographic Trends Distant Suburbs Arizona Atlanta Florida Close-in Suburbs A Blue Metros Georgia Colorado- 1–28 Introduction 1–28
- 171–224 Florida 171–224
- 309–336 Texas 309–336
- 421–422 Appendix 421–422