Why is West Virginia Republican but economically left-wing?

West Virginia was a state that strongly supported FDR's New Deal coalition. That support continued in 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996 presidential elections but became a bit shaky. Many West Virginians are Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christians. read more

West Virginia was a state that strongly supported FDR’s New Deal coalition. That support continued in 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996 presidential elections but became a bit shaky. Many West Virginians are Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christians. read more

West Virginians tended to be economically liberal but socially conservative, and as social issues like abortion came to the forefront in national politics, the state started looking better for Republicans. read more

Breathe in relief. Don Blankenship will not be West Virginia’s Republican nominee for Senate. For once, obscene wealth could not transcend the weight of a man’s earthly sins. “Cocaine” Mitch McConnell, racial slurs, 29 dead coal miners, Donald Trump’s opposition—each poked a hole in the mighty Blankenship. read more