Electoral College changes 1960-2020 (a net positive for GOP as of 2012)

[barfbag]

If you look at the latter half of the 20th century, it's interesting to find that the classic battleground states of this era pretty much stay the same with a few exceptions. Throughout the mid-late 20th century, Florida remained and still does remain a center-right state. Ohio has pretty much voted for the winners. Pennsylvania and Michigan pretty much were center-left states. Nevada was center right to light red and by 2000 was a center to center-right state. The same could be said for New Mexico. Oregon has been a battleground more often than not but moved to the left throughout these decades. New Hampshire went from light red to toss up. Missouri is another example of a state that pretty much stayed the same at the presidential level. I know Minnesota has had a streak of voting Democrat but they're along the same lines as Pennsylvania and Michigan when numbers are averaged. We shouldn't forget Iowa or Wisconsin either they moved a little slower than Oregon towards the left. Battleground states that are no longer on the short list would include New Jersey, Illinois, California, Delaware, Washington, and Maine. During this era we also saw much of the south move from Democrat to Republican especially between 1976 and 1980 while the northeast continued to get a little bluer.

[barfbag]

If you look at the latter half of the 20th century, it's interesting to find that the classic battleground states of this era pretty much stay the same with a few exceptions. Throughout the mid-late 20th century, Florida remained and still does remain a center-right state. Ohio has pretty much voted for the winners. Pennsylvania and Michigan pretty much were center-left states. Nevada was center right to light red and by 2000 was a center to center-right state. The same could be said for New Mexico. Oregon has been a battleground more often than not but moved to the left throughout these decades. New Hampshire went from light red to toss up. Missouri is another example of a state that pretty much stayed the same at the presidential level. I know Minnesota has had a streak of voting Democrat but they're along the same lines as Pennsylvania and Michigan when numbers are averaged. We shouldn't forget Iowa or Wisconsin either they moved a little slower than Oregon towards the left. Battleground states that are no longer on the short list would include New Jersey, Illinois, California, Delaware, Washington, and Maine. During this era we also saw much of the south move from Democrat to Republican especially between 1976 and 1980 while the northeast continued to get a little bluer.

States that have been a battleground (within 5% of popular vote) the most times in the 11 elections starting with the 1972 Nixon landslide:

1. Ohio: 11 times (in every election)
2. Pennsylvania: 9 times (between 1972 & 2012)
3. Missouri: 9 times (between 1972 & 2004)
4. Iowa: 8 times (between 1976 & 2012)
5. New Mexico: 8 times (between 1972 & 2004)
6. Wisconsin: 7 times (between 1976 & 2012)
7. New Hampshire: 6 times (between 1992 & 2012)
8. Florida: 6 times (between 1976 & 2012)
9. Colorado: 6 times (between 1972 & 2012)
10. Michigan: 6 times (between 1980 & 2000)
11. Maine: 6 times (between 1972 & 2000)
12. Louisiana: 6 times (between 1976 & 1996)
13. Nevada: 5 times (between 1972 & 2012)
14. Oregon: 5 times (between 1976 & 2000)
15. Connecticut: 5 times (between 1972 & 1992)
15. Delaware: 5 times (between 1972 & 1992)
15. New Jersey: 5 times (between 1972 & 1992)
18. Virginia: 4 times (between 1976 & 2012)
19. California: 4 times (between 1976 & 1996)
20. Montana: 4 times (between 1972 & 1992)
21. Vermont: 4 times (between 1972 & 1988)
22. Minnesota: 3 times (between 2000 & 2012)
23. Tennessee: 3 times (between 1984 & 2000)
24. Washington: 3 times (between 1972 & 1996)
25. Kentucky: 3 times (between 1984 & 1992)
26. Texas: 3 times (between 1976 & 1988)
27. Maryland: 3 times (between 1972 & 1988)
28. Illinois: 3 times (between 1972 & 1980)
29. Georgia: Twice (1984 & 1992)
30. South Dakota: Twice (1976 & 1988)
31. West Virginia: Twice (1972 & 1988)
32. Hawaii: Twice (1972 & 1976)
33. Alabama: Once (1984)
33. Arkansas: Once (1984)
35. Mississippi: Once (1976)
35. New York: Once (1976)
35. Oklahoma: Once (1976)
38. Alaska: Once (1972)
38. North Dakota: Once (1972)

40. Kansas: Never (closest 1988, R+5.5%)
41. Indiana: Never (closest 1984, R+5.8%)
41. North Carolina: Never (closest 1984, R+5.8%)
43. Arizona: Never (closest 1996, R+6.3%)
44. South Carolina: Never (closest 1980, D+8.2%)
45. Rhode Island: Never (closest 1976, D+9.2%)
46. Massachusetts: Never (closest 1980, D+9.6%)
47. Wyoming: Never (closest 1992, R+11.2%)
48. Nebraska: Never (closest 1988, R+13.2%)
49. Idaho: Never (closest 1972, R+15%)
50. Utah: Never (closest 1972, R+18.1%)
51. Washington D.C.: Never (closest 1976, D+63.1%)

So no less than 39 states have been a true battleground state at least once since 1972. And a couple of the non-battleground states - North & South Carolina - have been both solidly Democratic and solidly Republican in different elections, but never a true toss-up.

Two "eternal battlegrounds", Missouri and New Mexico, fell out of favor after 2004. However, we've been able to add two fairly new battlegrounds in order to replace them; Minnesota and Virginia.

It depends on how you define battleground. To me battleground means a state is within the national vote margin. In elections like 2000 there were none. Battlegrounds for 2012 were Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina. This isn't always reflective as landslide years would have several battleground states and toss up elections would have almost no battleground states.

[barfbag]

It depends on how you define battleground. To me battleground means a state is within the national vote margin. In elections like 2000 there were none. Battlegrounds for 2012 were Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina. This isn't always reflective as landslide years would have several battleground states and toss up elections would have almost no battleground states.

If you count in another way, then Ohio wouldn't longer be the obvious battleground state, as it has never been close in any landslide election. Which isn't really fair to Ohio, or to the notion of a battleground state.

Yes but if you count up the number of times a state has fallen within the national vote, you'll reach a list close in its order of respect. Ohio would still be at the very top along with New Mexico, Missouri, and Nevada.