Which states have picked the winner the longest?

[Alcon]

More information can be found about this topic here:

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/ARTICLES/pe2000bellwether.php

There are also eight counties that had a perfect record for the ten elections between 1960 and 1996. One, Ferry County, Washington, is a semi-bellwether. In 1988, it had a tie down to the very vote between Dukakis and Bush.

In 2000, the streaks were ruined for the state of Delaware, as well as New Castle County, Del., and Socorro County, N.M. All of the other bellwethers remain so.

The state results in 2000 for the bellwether states were:
Delaware - Kerry +13.1
Missouri - Bush +3.3

The bellwether county results were:

New Castle, DE - Gore +23.0
Socorro, NM - Gore +1.8
Vigo, IN - Bush +1.2
Van Buren, AR - Bush +4.1
Lincoln, MO - Bush +10.0
Logan, AR - Bush +14.8
Eddy, NM - Bush +18.1
Ferry, WA - Bush +31.7

If Bush wins, it is almost definite that the last four counties will remain bellwethers; if Kerry wins, we may lose all of them, except perhaps Vigo County and Van Buren County. It all depends on the outcome.

I would be interested in stats about what county votes closest to the national percentage. Does anyone have that?

[Alcon]

So, in other words, if you go by popular vote, New Castle County, Delaware, is the longest streak (76 years) and if you go by electoral vote, the longest streak is Vigo County, Indiana (44 yeras). I think that's right.