§ 03

Mapping Democratic Strength

In the United States, political affiliation often falls along two broad lines: the Democratic Party, generally associated with liberal or progressive positions, and the Republican Party, aligned with conservative or right-leaning views. States differ widely in how strongly they lean toward either side — a pattern shaped by history, demographics, and regional values.

This ranking looks at how Democratic each state truly is, using two complementary measures from the 2024 presidential election:

  1. Vote share — the percentage of ballots cast for the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.

  2. Party registration — the proportion of voters officially registered as Democrats in 2024.

Together, these patterns highlight how registration reflects party identity, while vote share reveals political reality. The data show a country increasingly polarized by region — strong Democratic support along the coasts and in major cities, weaker in the rural interior — and a political map where traditional party lines no longer tell the full story.

§ 04

Key Findings

  • Hawaii is the most Democratic state in 2024, with over 63% of votes for the Democratic candidate — the highest share nationwide.
  • Maryland and Massachusetts follow closely, both with around 60% Democratic support and high rates of registered Democrats, confirming their long-standing alignment with the party.
  • California and New York remain Democratic strongholds, each delivering major vote margins that account for a significant share of national Democratic totals.
  • Wyoming ranks as the least Democratic state, with just 25.8% voting Democratic and 11% registered Democrats, marking the lowest measured levels of support.
  • West Virginia and Kentucky stand out for their mismatch between registration and voting: large numbers of registered Democrats but far fewer Democratic votes, showing a clear long-term shift in political loyalty.
  • Overall, Democratic strength is concentrated in fewer but more consistent states, especially along the East and West Coasts, while support remains limited across the central and mountain regions.
§ 05

Top 10 Democratic States

  1. District of Columbia
    Harris captured 90.28 % of the vote. The district’s urban, federal, and administrative character make it strongly Democratic in virtually all elections.

  2. Vermont
    Harris received 63.83 %. Once more rural and mixed politically, Vermont has over the past decades shifted toward progressive and liberal consensus politics.

  3. Maryland
    Harris won 62.62 %. Proximity to Washington, D.C., high levels of federal and academic employment, and well-funded public services help anchor a strong Democratic coalition.

  4. Massachusetts
    Harris got 61.22 %. The state’s long liberal tradition—support for education, health, social policy—is deeply embedded in its institutions and civic culture.

  5. Hawaii
    Harris managed 60.59 % there. Hawaii has voted Democrat in all but two presidential elections (1972 and 1984), reinforcing its status as one of the most reliably Democratic jurisdictions.

  6. California
    Harris earned 58.47 %. With a large, diverse electorate and significant crossover support, California remains central to any Democratic electoral strategy.

  7. Washington (state)
    Harris won 57.23 %. Democratic strength is concentrated in the western, urbanized parts of the state; more rural eastern regions tend to lean Republican.

  8. Delaware
    Harris got 56.49 %. As a smaller state, Delaware’s political dynamics often reflect suburban liberalism and stability in voter alignments.

  9. Connecticut
    Harris earned 56.40 %. Connecticut’s proximity to larger Northeast population centers and its suburban profile support consistent Democratic outcomes.

  10. New York
    Harris won 55.91 %. New York City and metropolitan areas dominate statewide results—even with upstate areas being more moderate, the city’s turnout keeps the state reliably Democratic.

Rank State / District Democratic Vote Share 2024 % Registered Democrats 2024
1 District of Columbia 90.28 % 76.2 %
2 Vermont 63.83 %
3 Maryland 62.62 % 52.5 %
4 Massachusetts 61.22 % 26.3 %
5 Hawaii 60.59 %
6 California 58.47 % 46.2 %
7 Washington (state) 57.23 %
8 Delaware 56.49 % 44.9 %
9 Connecticut 56.40 %
10 New York 55.91 % 48.9 %
§ 06

Bottom 10 Democratic States

  1. Wyoming
    Harris got 25.84 %. Wyoming has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, reflecting a very weak institutional Democratic presence.

  2. West Virginia
    Harris captured 28.10 %. Historically part of the Democratic labor-coal stronghold, the state has realigned sharply Republican in recent decades.

  3. Idaho
    Harris got 30.38 %. The Democratic base is limited, often restricted to urban centers and university towns, while large rural areas remain strongly Republican.

  4. North Dakota
    Harris received 30.51 %. Because North Dakota does not require partisan registration, vote share is the key measure of Democratic influence there.

  5. Oklahoma
    Harris reached 31.90 %. Although conservative overall, party registration (~27.5 %) indicates some base Democratic identity, even in a red state.

  6. Arkansas
    Harris got 33.56 %. The state has shifted more Republican in national races—Democratic strength now is largely local or implicit.

  7. Kentucky
    Harris managed 33.94 %. In many areas, Democratic registration persists from prior generations, even as federal elections skew Republican.

  8. Alabama
    Harris got 34.10 %. The state has been reliably Republican at the presidential level for many cycles; Democratic chances in federal races are limited.

  9. South Dakota
    Harris took 34.24 %. Voter registration data (~21.3 %) suggests a meaningful formal Democratic presence compared to vote share, indicating underperformance in turnout or crossover loss.

  10. Tennessee
    Harris got 34.47 %. The state has trended Republican in presidential elections for decades; local Democrats sometimes secure legislative wins but rarely at the top of the ticket.

Rank State Democratic Vote Share 2024 % Registered Democrats 2024
1 Wyoming 25.84 % 11.1 %
2 West Virginia 28.10 % 29.6 %
3 Idaho 30.38 % 12.6 %
4 North Dakota 30.51 %
5 Oklahoma 31.90 % 27.5 %
6 Arkansas 33.56 %
7 Kentucky 33.94 % 42.9 %
8 Alabama 34.10 %
9 South Dakota 34.24 % 21.3 %
10 Tennessee 34.47 %