Most Liberal States [Updated April 2023] (2024)

The most liberal state in the country is Massachusetts, where the equally progressive city of Boston is located. Next is Hawaii, followed by Rhode Island, California, New York, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Oregon. This index of how liberal a state is is based on how many liberals there are compared to conservatives.

Just like some states can be more liberal than others, some cities are more liberal than others. These cities tend to have high minority populations and public expressions of LGBTQ+ acceptance. The most liberal city is San Francisco, California, followed by Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; Oakland, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; New York City, New York; Buffalo, New York; and Baltimore, Maryland. Notice that all of these cities are in blue states.

States can change from liberal to conservative over time due to factors like immigration, empowerment of minority groups (which tend to support liberal policies over conservative ones), and taxation. New York, for example, used to be highly conservative but is now much more progressive.

Below are the ten most liberal states in the United States. The data is based on “most conservative” rankings by the Center for Legislative Accountability.

1. Massachusetts

Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the U.S., with 35% of voters identifying as liberal. With 21% of voters identifying as conservative, Massachusetts has a liberal advantage of 14 points. Moderates are the largest group in Massachusetts, with 38% of the voting population identifying as moderate. In the 2016 presidential election, 60% of voters voted Democratic.

Massachusetts is also the home state of well-known politicians such as Elizabeth Warren, Michael Dukakis, Jill Stein, and the Kennedys. That state also has many urban areas and a highly educated population – two factors that strongly contribute to a liberal environment.

2. Hawaii

Hawaii is the second-most liberal state in the United States. 28% of voters in Hawaii identify as liberal, and 22% identify as conservative, giving Hawaii a liberal advantage of 6 points, the second-highest in the country. Moderates are the largest group in Hawaii, with 45% of voters identifying as moderate, which is also the largest percentage of any state in the country. In 2016, 62.2% of Hawaii voters voted Democratic in the presidential election.

3. Rhode Island

The smallest state in the country is also the third-most liberal. Rhode Island has 25% of residents who identify as liberal, compared to 29% who identify as conservative, and 40% who identify as moderate. Rhode Island has only voted for a Republican presidential candidate twice since 1960.

4. California

California is the fourth-most liberal state in the United States. 29% of voters identify as liberal, and 29% identify as conservative, giving California a liberal advantage of zero points. 36% of voters in California identify as moderate. As the state with the most electoral votes, California’s vote is a big deal in elections. In the 2016 presidential election, 61.5% of voters voted Democratic, a 30% lead over the Republican vote.

5. New York

New York is the fifth-most liberal state in the U.S. 30% of voters identify as liberal in New York versus 27% who identify as conservative, giving New York a 3-point liberal advantage. New York is geographically split, a majority of upstate areas vote conservative, and the larger metro areas vote liberal. In the 2016 presidential election, 59% of voters voted Democratic.

6. Vermont

Vermont is the sixth-most liberal state in the country, with 32% of voters identifying as liberal. With 28% of voters identifying as conservative, Vermont has a liberal advantage of 4 points, the third-highest country. 56.3% of Vermont voters voted Democratic in the 2016 election, while 30.3% voted Republican. In 2012, Barack Obama won Vermont by 35.6 percentage points.

7. Maryland

Maryland has 28% of voters identifying as liberal. Maryland voters are 29% conservative, giving the state a -1 point liberal advantage. The largest group of voters is moderate, at 39%. Most of Maryland’s liberal base is in the Washington D.C. metro area and Baltimore. In the 2016 presidential election, 60.3% of voters voted Democratic.

Maryland legalized gay marriage, pushed for major gun restrictions, and imposed tax increases, among other progressive policies.

8. New Jersey

Although New Jersey is another state with a negative liberal advantage (-2 points), many of the state’s moderate voters tend to vote for more progressive social policies. As a result, New Jersey has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.

9. Connecticut

Similar to New Jersey, although there are 27% of residents who identify as liberal and 30% who identify as conservative, many of the 38% of self-identified moderates lean more liberal than conservative. The state attracts many of the same highly-educated citizens as neighboring Massachusetts.

10. Oregon

Oregon is the tenth-most liberal state in the country, with 28% of voters identifying as liberal. Oregon has a liberal advantage of -4 points due to 32% of voters identifying as conservative; however, 35% of voters identify as moderate. In the 2016 presidential election, 50.1% of voters voted Democratic while 39.1% voted Republican. The most Democratic areas of the state were around Eugene and Portland.

The top ten most liberal urban areas in the United States, starting with the most liberal city in America, include the following: San Francisco, California; Washington, District of Columbia; Seattle, Washington; Oakland, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Buffalo, New York; and Baltimore, Maryland.

Most Liberal States [Updated April 2023] (2024)

FAQs

Which US states are most liberal? ›

Most Liberal States [Updated April 2023]
  1. Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the U.S., with 35% of voters identifying as liberal. ...
  2. Hawaii. Hawaii is the second-most liberal state in the United States. ...
  3. Rhode Island. ...
  4. California. ...
  5. New York. ...
  6. Vermont. ...
  7. Maryland. ...
  8. New Jersey.

Which US states are most conservative? ›

Wyoming is the most Republican state in the U.S.. 67% of residents in Wyoming identify as Republican or Republican-leaning. Wyoming has low taxes across the board, including no state income tax.

What is the least conservative state? ›

A new report from the Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA) has ranked all 50 states from most to least conservative, with Alabama leading as the most conservative state in the U.S. and Massachusetts as the least conservative.

What is the most liberal city in the United States? ›

1. Washington D.C. The most liberal city in the United States is Washington, D.C., the nation's proud capital city. Located in the District of Columbia, this area is home to roughly 670,000 people and is often viewed as its state as opposed to a traditional city.

What is the most Republican leaning state? ›

Based on the latest CPVI data, Wyoming is the most Republican state in the nation. Following behind is West Virginia, then North Dakota takes third place.

Which state is most Republican? ›

However, it is important to note that Washington D.C. (while not a state) has 3 electoral votes and 76% of residents identify as Democrats, while 6% identify as Republicans. Wyoming was the most Republican state, with 59% of residents identifying as Republican, and only 25% of residents identifying as Democratic.

Where are the most Republican areas in USA? ›

Most Conservative Cities in USA
  • Jackson, Mississippi. The most conservative city in the USA is Jackson. ...
  • The Woodlands, Texas. ...
  • Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. ...
  • Gainesville, Georgia. ...
  • Provo, Utah. ...
  • Fort Smith, Arkansas. ...
  • Rapid City, South Dakota. ...
  • Clermont, Florida.
Mar 5, 2023

Is Colorado a liberal or Republican state? ›

Once considered a purple state that used to be somewhat Republican, Colorado has been trending Democratic since the early part of the 21st century due to changing demographics and a rising number of the large unaffiliated bloc of voters leaning Democratic.

Is North Carolina a red state? ›

In the three presidential elections since 2008, Indiana and North Carolina went back to supporting Republicans. Virginia has continued voting for the Democratic presidential nominees (as well as increasingly electing Democrats at the state level), leading to its being reclassified as a blue state in recent years.

Is Virginia a red or blue state? ›

Of the state's eleven seats in the House of Representatives, Democrats hold six and Republicans hold five. The state is widely considered blue-leaning, a trend that moves parallel with the growth of the Washington D.C. and Richmond suburbs but has been recognized as a swing state by some in light of the 2021 GOP wave.

Where is the best place for liberals to live? ›

  • #8. Bluemont, Virginia. ...
  • #7. Mid-City, California. ...
  • #6. University South, California. ...
  • #5. Great Neck Gardens, New York. ...
  • #4. Brookline, Massachusetts. - Population: 59,223. ...
  • #3. Ocean Park, California. - Population: 12,072. ...
  • #2. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, Virginia. - Population: 11,927. ...
  • #1. Ardmore, Pennsylvania. - Population: 13,567.
Nov 21, 2022

What is the liberal capital of the world? ›

Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City.

What do most liberals believe in? ›

The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the separation of church and state, the right to due process and equality under the law are widely accepted as a common foundation of liberalism.

What are Republican swing states? ›

In past electoral results, Republican candidates would have expected to easily win most of the mountain states and Great Plains, such as Idaho, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, most of the South, including Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South ...

Which political party is strongest in USA? ›

Since the 1850s, the two largest political parties have been the Democratic Party and the Republican Party—which together have won every United States presidential election since 1852 and controlled the United States Congress since at least 1856.

Which states are swing states? ›

These states include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. All five of these states have governorship elections in the 2022 midterms.

What is the bluest state? ›

Here are the 10 "Bluest" states by PVI:
  • Vermont - D+16.
  • Massachusetts - D+15.
  • Maryland - D+14.
  • Hawaii - D+14.
  • California - D+13.
  • New York - D+10.
  • Washington - D+8.
  • Rhode Island - D+8.

What percent of American are Republican? ›

U.S. Political Party Identification, 1988-2022

In 2022, 41% of U.S. adults identified as independents, 28% as Republicans and 28% as Democrats. More Americans usually identify as Democrats than as Republicans.

Is Wyoming a red or blue state? ›

As a state with a strong Republican tradition, Wyoming tends to favor the Republican Party in presidential elections. It has consistently voted for Republican candidates in recent decades and is considered a reliably red state.

Where do conservative people live? ›

All but two of the top 10 best conservative places to live in the U.S. are in the Midwest. Nearly all of the locations listed in the top 10 are suburbs of larger cities; many of these locations near larger cities (Nashville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee, namely) have higher median home values.

Is Montana a Republican state? ›

Donald Trump ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and thus received all of the state's 27 delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Is Denver a Republican city? ›

Politics. While Denver elections are non-partisan, Democrats have long held a virtual monopoly on Denver politics with all citywide elected officials having Democratic Party affiliation. The office of Denver's Mayor has been occupied by a Democrat since the municipal general election of 1963.

What percentage of Colorado are Democrats? ›

Party affiliation among adults in Colorado
Survey yearRepublican/lean Rep.Democrat/lean Dem.
201441%42%
200736%44%

Is Montana a red state? ›

Montana has been reliably Republican in recent presidential elections, having voted for only two Democrats since 1952.

What are the swing states in the future? ›

The new battleground map that will determine who wins in 2024 includes two newcomers — Arizona and Georgia — and two traditional swing states — Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Is North Carolina mostly Democrat or Republican? ›

North Carolina has voted for the Republican candidate in all but one presidential election since 1980; the one exception was in 2008, when a plurality of North Carolinians voted for Barack Obama.

Is South Carolina blue or red? ›

Elected President

South Carolina was the only East Coast state in 2020 to vote Republican by a double-digit margin. This was the first time that both main party candidates won more than one million votes in a statewide election in South Carolina, alongside the concurrent Senate election.

What are the most Democratic states? ›

Most Democratic States
  1. Hawaii. With a PVI of D+18, Hawaii is the most democratic state in the United States. ...
  2. Vermont. Vermont is the second-most Democratic state in the U.S. with a PVI of D+15. ...
  3. 3. California. ...
  4. Maryland. ...
  5. Massachusetts. ...
  6. New York. ...
  7. Rhode Island. ...
  8. Illinois.

Is Vermont a blue state? ›

Between 1854 and 1962, the state always voted Republican for Governor, thereafter, the governor's office alternated between the Democratic and Republican parties. The legislature has been primarily Democratic since the mid-1980s.

What is the cheapest liberal town? ›

Oberlin College

The most affordable liberal college town is Oberlin, Ohio. Home to Oberlin College since 1833, Oberlin is an energetic and politically active place well known for its Progressive student population.

Who is more generous conservative or liberal? ›

Our meta-analysis results suggest that political conservatives are significantly more charitable than liberals at an overall level, but the relationship between political ideology and charitable giving varies under different scenarios.

What House is the most conservative Democrats? ›

The modern Blue Dog Coalition remains the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House, broadly adopting socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies and promoting fiscal restraint. Blue Dogs are mostly elected in Republican-leaning districts. The caucus currently has nine members.

How much of us is liberal? ›

The percentage conservative was 31% in 1994 and, after rising to 35% in most years between 2009 and 2013, it has declined back to the 30% level in 2021. The percentage liberal has been fairly steady in a range from 18% to 24%, including 20% in 2021.

Which country is most progressive? ›

Introduction
#CountryLiberal Democracy Index
1Sweden0.88
2Denmark0.88
3Norway0.86
4Costa Rica0.85
87 more rows

What is the most extreme form of liberalism? ›

In its most extreme form, neoclassical liberalism advocated social Darwinism. Right-libertarianism is a modern form of neoclassical liberalism.

What are 3 major liberal beliefs? ›

Through all these strands and traditions, scholars have identified the following major common facets of liberal thought: believing in equality and individual liberty. supporting private property and individual rights. supporting the idea of limited constitutional government.

Do liberals believe in human rights? ›

Classical liberals believe that the list of genuine human rights is quite short. It is comprised primarily of those things that are necessary to preserve life and individual liberty. This list includes the right to be free from torture, slavery, arbitrary arrest or detention.

What is the difference between a liberal and a conservative? ›

Conservatives believe in the importance of stability, and promote law and order to protect private property. Liberals believe in universal access to health care; they believe personal health should be in no way dependent upon one's financial resources, and support government intervention to sever that link.

How many states are considered liberal? ›

Beyond the six states that are the most liberal – Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Washington, New York, and New Hampshire – there are another nine states that are considered to be liberal.

What is a typical US liberal? ›

The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the separation of church and state, the right to due process and equality under the law are widely accepted as a common foundation of liberalism.

What is the most Democratic state? ›

Most Democratic States
  1. Hawaii. With a PVI of D+18, Hawaii is the most democratic state in the United States. ...
  2. Vermont. Vermont is the second-most Democratic state in the U.S. with a PVI of D+15. ...
  3. California. ...
  4. Maryland. ...
  5. Massachusetts. ...
  6. New York. ...
  7. Rhode Island. ...
  8. Illinois.

Which party is bigger Democrats or Republicans? ›

U.S. Political Party Identification, 1988-2022

In 2022, 41% of U.S. adults identified as independents, 28% as Republicans and 28% as Democrats. More Americans usually identify as Democrats than as Republicans.

Which party is more liberal? ›

As of 2021, about one quarter of the American public self-identifies as liberal, making it the smallest of the mainstream ideological groups. The Democratic Party represents liberals in the United States, with 50% of Democrats identifying as liberal, compared to only 4% of Republicans.

What percentage of US voters are independent? ›

But it turns out a rising number of Americans want something else — political independence. Driving the news: Gallup polling last month found that a record 49% of Americans see themselves as politically independent — the same as the two major parties put together.

Is Arizona a blue or red state? ›

Inversely, Georgia and Arizona had supported Republican presidential candidates for decades before 2020 - Georgia last voting blue in 1992 and Arizona 1996. This suggests that Georgia and Arizona are gradually becoming bluer.

Is Wyoming red or blue? ›

As a state with a strong Republican tradition, Wyoming tends to favor the Republican Party in presidential elections. It has consistently voted for Republican candidates in recent decades and is considered a reliably red state.

What do modern liberals believe in? ›

Modern liberalism opposes the interests of corporations, opposes cuts to the social safety net, and supports a role for government in reducing inequality, increasing diversity, providing access to education, ensuring access to private sector healthcare, regulating economic activity, and protecting the natural ...

What do most liberals believe about the economy? ›

Economic liberals commonly adhere to a political and economic philosophy that advocates a restrained fiscal policy and a balanced budget through measures such as low taxes, reduced government spending, and minimized government debt.

What do Democrats believe in? ›

From workers' rights to protecting the environment, equal pay to fighting the special interests, Democrats believe we can and should make life better for families across our nation. fairness, justice, and equality for all by standing up for all middle-class Americans and those struggling to get there.

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