Why is IA so much more Dem than neighboring states?

[kwabbit]

As others have said, the Farm Crisis made much of rural Eastern Iowa much more Democratic than its baseline. It caused a generation of rural Iowans to shift left, with these counties shifting rapidly Republican under Trump.

I think an underrated factor is the role Iowa's first in the nation primary plays. It definitely encourages a civic mindedness that's correlated with Democratic strength. Other high turnout states like Minnesota and Wisconsin have been more Democratic than what would be expected as well.

[kwabbit]

Residual remembrance of the 80's farm crisis which devastated Iowa. Go look at the maps comparing 1980 to 1984 to 1988.

I heard many people saying so. Yet so many years had past and so many things had changed. VT moved from a safe R state to safe D state, WV the opposite. How could the memory of 80's farm crisis last forever?

If they blamed the Republican party for losing their livelihood, then they might hold that grudge for life. It was 40 years ago at this point, where many of these farmers are now dead. Their children will be standard rural Republicans; they don’t remember the farm crisis and don’t have any deep seated resentment.

It’s similar to the Red wall in Norther England. The hatred of the Tories lasted a generation. Only now is the area becoming hospitable for the Conservatives.

It’s a different phenomenon than simply losing your job in a recession, these events totally changed the local economy and way of life. That’s why they caused such huge political shifts.