Texas isn't among the Top 10 most Republican states

The South isn&#039;t as &quot;red&quot; as you think

published 20 February 2015

You may not be surprised that Massachusetts is the most Democratic state (despite the fact that Bay State voters just elected a Republican as governor), according to a new Gallup analysis of 2014 U.S. partisan preferences. Wyoming, Gallup says, is the most Republican state, followed closely by Utah. But missing from the Top 10 Republican states? Most of the South (Tennessee and Alabama are the exceptions).

In fact, Texas — home to Sen. Ted Cruz, ex-Gov. Rick Perry, and ex-President George W. Bush — barely makes the Top 20 (it's No. 18, with Republicans holding a 3.9 percentage point advantage over Democrats), and is listed as "competitive" in Gallup's rankings. It may not feel competitive, notes Matt Levin at the Houston Chronicle, because "that small percent still means a more than 1 million voter advantage for Texas Republicans." For now. Here's Gallup's map:

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.