Finney County KS

[walleye26]

This county is still safe R, but why is it trending D? Clinton did better than Obama here, and it went further left in the midterms. So why is this moving left? Also, what’s the margin?

[Roronoa D. Law]

It has large Hispanic population but most of them are either too young are not politically involved to the point where Democrats could actually win the county. I remember reading a study that showed that while a state may become majority-minority it usually takes about 10-15 years till it shows up among eligible voters.

[walleye26]

So demographically, this could be a County to watch in the future?

[Politician]

It's Lean D in 2020.

[MT Treasurer]

It's Lean D in 2020.

^So much for your complaints about "sarcasm" and "strawmen."

Anyway, I’m very curious about this as well. It’s not just Finney County which has been trending strongly Democratic in recent elections, but that entire Finney/Haskell/Seward county cluster (some other adjacent counties as well, but to a much lesser extent):



I get that rural KS is virtually maxed out for Republicans and that there is nowhere left to offset the Republican collapse in places like Johnson, Douglas, Segdwick, Shawnee, etc., but Finney, Haskell, and Seward in particular really stick out.

[ON Progressive]

Yeah, it’s largely the electorate becoming more and more Hispanic causing this trend.

[Pollster]

Southwest Kansas is a major growth area for Democrats and has been for quite some time - I believe Grissom mentioned he was interested in mass voter registration drives in the area.

[DINGO Joe]

According to the latest Census estimate Finney County is 50.5% Hispanic and has a population of 36,600.  It cast about 8700 votes in the 2018 Gov race.

By comparison, Harvey County (just North of Wichita) is 12% Hispanic and has a population of 34,200.  It cast about 13700 votes in the 2018 Gov race.

Obviously very low participation in these Hispanic counties in SW KS.