In which states are socially conservative Democrats still relevant?

[Cashew]

By relevant I mean still retaining a presence in the state legislature. North Carolina for example out of the original 11 Democrats who voted for the bathroom bill 6 remain in office, 4 have retired or lost reelection, and 1 switched parties. Obviously there's Louisiana, but how much sway do they still have in states where Democratic support recently hit rock bottom?

[JGibson]

Rhode Island to some extent.

[smoltchanov]

By relevant I mean still retaining a presence in the state legislature. North Carolina for example out of the original 11 Democrats who voted for the bathroom bill 6 remain in office, 4 have retired or lost reelection, and 1 switched parties. Obviously there's Louisiana, but how much sway do they still have in states where Democratic support recently hit rock bottom?

Depends on what you see as "relevant". Obviously there is rather considerable number of socially conservative Democrats in Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky or West Virginia legislatures in addition to Louisiana's. But - in all these states legislatures are controlled by Republicans, and in all, but Louisiana, they have trifecta's, so the votes of socially conservative Demorats are not critical in passing of legislation. If you mean Democratically-controlle states - Rhode Island will, probably, be the best example, as there is still a considerable number of socially conservative Democrats there. There are some in Massachusetts and Maine too, but not enough of being critically important..

[VPH]

By relevant I mean still retaining a presence in the state legislature. North Carolina for example out of the original 11 Democrats who voted for the bathroom bill 6 remain in office, 4 have retired or lost reelection, and 1 switched parties. Obviously there's Louisiana, but how much sway do they still have in states where Democratic support recently hit rock bottom?

Who are the 6 still in office? Lots of socially conservative Dems around the country have either retired or taken losses in Republican-leaning districts as polarization grows. Kansas is a good example of that, as lots of our more centrist rural Democrats lost in 2018, some by painfully close margins like Eber Phelps from Hays and Steve Crum from Haysville.

[Cashew]

By relevant I mean still retaining a presence in the state legislature. North Carolina for example out of the original 11 Democrats who voted for the bathroom bill 6 remain in office, 4 have retired or lost reelection, and 1 switched parties. Obviously there's Louisiana, but how much sway do they still have in states where Democratic support recently hit rock bottom?

Who are the 6 still in office? Lots of socially conservative Dems around the country have either retired or taken losses in Republican-leaning districts as polarization grows. Kansas is a good example of that, as lots of our more centrist rural Democrats lost in 2018, some by painfully close margins like Eber Phelps from Hays and Steve Crum from Haysville.

Elmer Floyd, Charles Graham, Howard J. Hunter III, Garland E. Pierce, William O. Richardson, and Michael H. Wray, three of whom are in safe >60% Dem districts with none of the others falling below 55%, so it's not just rural holdovers like in Kansas.

[smoltchanov]

By relevant I mean still retaining a presence in the state legislature. North Carolina for example out of the original 11 Democrats who voted for the bathroom bill 6 remain in office, 4 have retired or lost reelection, and 1 switched parties. Obviously there's Louisiana, but how much sway do they still have in states where Democratic support recently hit rock bottom?

Who are the 6 still in office? Lots of socially conservative Dems around the country have either retired or taken losses in Republican-leaning districts as polarization grows. Kansas is a good example of that, as lots of our more centrist rural Democrats lost in 2018, some by painfully close margins like Eber Phelps from Hays and Steve Crum from Haysville.

Kansas sticks out more to me as having an especially active and long-lived socially liberal Republican faction.  2 of the Republican appointees on the Kansas Supreme Court just joined the 6/1 decision that the state constitution ensures the right to an abortion.  Probably more of that going on in KS than anywhere else outside of the Safe D Northeast states.

It's also interesting that there is only one pro-life Dem governor right now (JBE) vs. 4 pro-choice GOP governors (Hogan, Baker, Scott, and Sununu). 

Yeah, but there is a sort of realignment going on in Kansas right now. The peak of moderate's influence was, probably, in 2017. Rught now, after suburban areas (Johnson county mostly) turned to Democrats, considerable number of surviving Republican moderates (some were defeated in last November despite being very moderate) became Democrats themselves (Bollier and Sykes in state Senate, Clayton - in House), so ranks of Republican moderates are, at least, substantially depleted.

[Indy Texas]

Rhode Island, Hawaii

Basically once you get past the inflection point where the Republican Party is so nonexistent that it social conservatives effectively have no choice but to "work within the system" in the Democratic Party.

[smoltchanov]

Rhode Island, Hawaii

Basically once you get past the inflection point where the Republican Party is so nonexistent that it social conservatives effectively have no choice but to "work within the system" in the Democratic Party.

If you limit himself by "blue states only" - of course...

[President Johnson]

Aren't most West Virginia Democrats socially conservative? Similar to Kentucky?

[smoltchanov]

Aren't most West Virginia Democrats socially conservative? Similar to Kentucky?

Of course. But Republicans can pass virtually any legislation they want without their support.