Movatterモバイル変換


[0]ホーム

URL:


Skip to content
Washington Monthly
Posted inPolitical Animal,Politics

Red States and Blue States….Explained!

RED STATES AND BLUE STATES….EXPLAINED!….In my post yesterday about red states and blue states, one question I pondered was this: why were Gore states colored blue in 2000 election maps and Bush states red? After all, red is traditionally the color of lefty parties around the world, and in past elections network maps had usually colored Democratic states red.

In comments, Petey provides the answer:

Since the advent of color TV, there has been a formula to avoid charges of giving any party an advantage by painting it a “better” color. Here is the formula: the color of the incumbent party alternates every 4 years.

He seems to be quite correct. The table below shows how this formula has applied since 1976:


Year

Incumbent
Party

Incumbent
Color

Challenger
Color

1976

Republican

Blue = Ford

Red = Carter

1980

Democratic

Red = Carter

Blue = Reagan

1984

Republican

Blue = Reagan

Red = Mondale

1988

Republican

Red = Bush

Blue = Dukakis

1992

Republican

Blue = Bush

Red = Clinton

1996

Democratic

Red = Clinton

Blue = Dole

2000

Democratic

Blue = Gore

Red = Bush

2004

Republican

Red = Bush

Blue = Kerry

This fits all the available evidence, and also explains why Democrats have usually been colored red: it’s a coincidence. In the six elections prior to 2000 every Democrat but one had been coded red, but that was just because of how the cycle of incumbency happened to work out during that period.

And as Petey points out in email, this raises an interesting question: what will happen in 2008? The formula will assign blue to the Republicans, but the red state/blue state divide has now become so entrenched it’s hard to imagine anyone switching colors at this point. I guess in four years we’ll find out just how anal the network mapping gurus really are.

POSTSCRIPT: If anyone has firsthand knowledge ? or knows someone with firsthand knowledge ? about when this formula was agreed on and how it came about, pleaseemail me. It would be interesting to nail this down once and for all.

Our ideas can save democracy... But we need your help! Donate Now!

Support the Washington Monthly

Founded in 1969, the Washington Monthly is an independent media organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission: To preserve democracy and champion good governance through honest journalism and thoughtful commentary.
 
We’re not a subsidiary of a giant media company or a mouthpiece for ideologues. We’re independent, listened to by insiders and willing to take on sacred cows—liberal and conservative. 

Yes, I'll Make a Donation

Washington Monthly Founder Charlie Peters Died On Thanksgiving Two Years Ago. Why He Still Matters

After helping to found the Peace Corps, the former West Virginia legislator started this magazine in 1969 and molded it for 32 years. Help us celebrate his life and legacy by donating now.

Keep reading
byMatthew Cooper

US-Canada Relations Have Hit Rock Bottom

The Trump administration’s policies have damaged the economies of both countries, says former U.S. Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard.

Keep reading
byAnne Kim andGarrett Epps

The Washington Monthly Restored My Faith in Journalism (Jobs) 

I was ready to give up when I landed a paid internship here, something that’s only possible because of readers like you. 

Keep reading
byGillen Tener Martin

Could Trump’s Narcissism Save Ukraine? 

The American president is eager to appease the Russian president, but Trump may be keener to win a Nobel Peace Prize, which would require Russian concessions. 

Keep reading
byBill Scher

Federal Data Are Disappearing

The erosion—and deliberate erasure—of government data by the Trump Administration threaten both public safety and the US economy, says former US chief data scientist Denice Ross.

Keep reading
byAnne Kim

The Clairvoyant Marjorie Taylor Greene 

She understood before the rest of the GOP, including the president, that an era was coming to an end, and that the party base wanted more than obedience to Trump. 

Keep reading
byDavid Atkins

Three Lessons From Trump’s Latest Plan for Ukraine 

Whatever emerges from U.S.-Ukrainian talks in Geneva, nothing good is likely to come from this recipe for appeasing Moscow.

Keep reading
byTamar Jacoby

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Gift this article


[8]ページ先頭

©2009-2025 Movatter.jp