Why is the Butte, Montana Region So Democratic?

[JohnCA246]

I was wondering why the Butte/Anaconda region is so much more Democratic than other mining or legacy mining areas such Coeur D'Arlene, Appalachia, Crawford County KS, or even comparable towns in Montana such as Libby? 

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Pit#Environmental_effects

[Sol]

I was wondering why the Butte/Anaconda region is so much more Democratic than other mining or legacy mining areas such Coeur D'Arlene, Appalachia, Crawford County KS, or even comparable towns in Montana such as Libby? 

Long history of radical unionization and corporate exploitation.

[Sumner 1868]

The radical labor tradition from the mines spread to other parts of the regional economy. Even with the mines shut down it's one the most unionized areas in the nation.

[Intell]

Counties that had a strong socialist vote (into 1932) and a history of radical union politcs remained more loyal to the democratic party. (see lake county, mn, reading, pa)

[JohnCA246]

I'm sure this is all true about labor activism, as Crawford County Kansas has often had more Democratic votes than other nearby counties, but still the Butte region is solidly Democratic while comparable areas aren't. Other areas with union mine jobs, labor activism, and radical unions often if not usually vote Republican. Mingo County, WV, Harland County, KY, and Crawford County, KS come to mind. Although I do not know if any of these voted Socialist in significant numbers into 1932.

[Intell]

I'm sure this is all true about labor activism, as Crawford County Kansas has often had more Democratic votes than other nearby counties, but still the Butte region is solidly Democratic while comparable areas aren't. Other areas with union mine jobs, labor activism, and radical unions often if not usually vote Republican. Mingo County, WV, Harland County, KY, and Crawford County, KS come to mind. Although I do not know if any of these voted Socialist in significant numbers into 1932.

Labour politics in those counties arose through the democratic party and FDR, not the socialist party and radical unions. However those counties were solidly democratic, but as part of Appalachia they were more culturally conservative and shifted hard right during the 2000s and especially during Obama's terms. I think the WWC class regions that have remained (somewhat) loyal to the democratic party are either

a) In New England
b) Had a socialist movement as part of it's history (and even then some areas with a strong socialist movement swung hard to Romney/Trump)

[jimrtex]

I'm sure this is all true about labor activism, as Crawford County Kansas has often had more Democratic votes than other nearby counties, but still the Butte region is solidly Democratic while comparable areas aren't. Other areas with union mine jobs, labor activism, and radical unions often if not usually vote Republican. Mingo County, WV, Harland County, KY, and Crawford County, KS come to mind. Although I do not know if any of these voted Socialist in significant numbers into 1932.

Butte was much larger than Couer d'Alene, and the population there has since been replaced several fold. Butte has the largest Irish-American by proportion of any American city.  That is, the current population is descended from miners even if they themselves aren't miners. Libby is no way comparable to Butte.

Anaconda and the railroads had such influence on Montana politics the Democratic Party has remained competitive, so Butte is not so far outside the political mainstream.

Coal Mining has collapsed in Pittsburg, and a presidential candidate who promises to put coal miners out of work (chops with hand in a symbolic beheading) in a harsh non-compassionate voice, "right, Tim" (smirk). She later apologizes for giving voters an excuse for not voting for her 

[Sol]

It's important to know that Butte for a long time was the largest city in Montana, with lots of European immigrants. The city in the early 20th century was extremely multi-ethnic, with lots of Catholics. It was and is an urban area, not a minor town. It's really more comparable to the Democratic industrial cities of the Midwest, though obviously whiter.

Moreover, it was a copper mining town--not a coal town, so not as easy to blame the long-term decline on environmentalists trying to stop global warming as is the case in Western PA/WV. More like the more Democratic anthracite coal areas in the Wyoming Valley, where coal died earlier.