What a difference seven years make. Thirty-five states were solidly Democratic or left-leaning when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008. Now, for the first time in eight years, the number of Republican or Republican-leaning states outnumber Democrat or Democrat-leaning ones, according to new analysis by Gallup.
Overall in 2015, there were 20 states that were solidly Republican or that leaned Republican, compared to 14 states that were solidly Democrat or leaned Democrat, the poll, released Wednesday, reported.
Wyoming was rated as the “most Republican” state, with 60 percent of Wyoming adults identifying as Republican or leaning Republican—and only 28 percent identifying as Democrats or leaning Democrat. Meanwhile, Hawaii and Vermont were the most Democrat states, with Democrat advantages of more than 20 points. Sixteen states are now classified as “competitive.”
