MIMAL states trends

[iceman]

We all are familiar how the MIMAL states (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana) have been politically realigning in an ascending fashion: starting with Louisiana in early 2000s, then Arkansas in 2008, Missouri in 2012, Iowa in 2020. Minnesota seems to be stubborn and not showing it would budging anytime soon. Is this trend purely coincidence and circumstantial? Or is there something really with the demographics and geography of these 5 states that contributed to this phenomenon?

[kwabbit]

Minnesota is more educated than any of these by a good amount. Given the newfound education divide, this has maintained its partisan lean even as Democrats hemorrhage non-college educated Whites. It also has a booming metro to attract new Democratic voters, something those other states don't (St. Louis and New Orleans have declining populations.)