Most liberal U.S. counties which voted for Bush in 2004

[nclib]

I'd guess Staten Island since Bush got a bounce from 9/11.

Buncombe, NC is reasonably liberal for its region.

Other suggestions?

[ottermax]

Do you mean the most liberal counties?

[Verily]

...Presumably you mean liberal. Staten Island is not all that liberal, at least socially, though certainly more so than many rural areas. You're probably right about it being a suburban county, though; Rockingham County, NH is a distinct possibility.

[nclib]

...Presumably you mean liberal.

Yes, corrected.

Staten Island is not all that liberal, at least socially, though certainly more so than many rural areas.

My understanding is that Staten Island is conservative for NYC and the Northeast, though reasonably liberal compared to the nation. As I said earlier, the 2004 Bush numbers were inflated due to 9/11.

[Willy Woz]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Reno County, NV or Maricopa County, AZ. Ocean County NJ is a close contender though.

[Alcon]

There are some really odd definitions of "liberal" going on here.  Suburbs = liberal?  Exurban Phoenix = liberal?

[Willy Woz]

There are some really odd definitions of "liberal" going on here.  Suburbs = liberal?  Exurban Phoenix = liberal?

Exurban Phoenix and Maricopa County are not the same thing. All I know is it was the only Bush-voting county I can think of which was against banning same-sex marriage.

[Verily]

Ocean County is interesting but not particularly liberal. At least, it's definitely socially conservative in the winter and definitely economically conservative in the summer.

[nclib]

There are some really odd definitions of "liberal" going on here.  Suburbs = liberal?  Exurban Phoenix = liberal?

Exurban Phoenix and Maricopa County are not the same thing. All I know is it was the only Bush-voting county I can think of which was against banning same-sex marriage.

I think there were about a dozen others (I made a thread on this, but I don't remember where).

Also, most liberal states did not have a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot.

Lastly, the Arizona measure was more restrictive than those of some other states.

[Willy Woz]

the Arizona measure was more restrictive than those of some other states.

I'm not so sure about that. I don't think it even banned civil unions.

[ottermax]

I would guess a county in New England, although Nevada would also have to have some rather liberal Bush counties. Only Clark county voted Kerry, and Nevada is a rather liberal state (at least socially).

[TeePee4Prez]

I would also say Chester County, PA barring the Amish parts would qualify on social issues.  Even the more socially liberal areas along US 202 voted for Bush.  Central Montgomery and Bucks would qualify as well, while the counties as a whole voted Kerry, a lot of the townships were deep Bush, but have pro-choice local Reps. 

[Cubby]

Ocean County is interesting but not particularly liberal. At least, it's definitely socially conservative in the winter and definitely economically conservative in the summer.

I was there once. Its like Florida-of-the-north. A very large elderly population, lots of retirees with beach houses. People who wanted to be near the ocean but didn't want to go to Florida itself. It didn't feel very Northeastern.

[Smash255]

A county not mentioned Wake NC perhaps?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

[Willy Woz]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

[Keystone Phil]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

Not liberal at all, really.

[Willy Woz]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

Not liberal at all, really.

Really? It's coastal and everything.

Collier County FL has never struck me as being particularly conservative.

[Keystone Phil]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

Not liberal at all, really.

Really? It's coastal and everything.

Are coastal areas usually liberal? I never heard of that. Anyway, no, Cape May county is not liberal.

[Keystone Phil]

By the way, just to prove that Cape May county is no way a liberal area, check out all the statewide races in NJ. Cape May has gone Republican (and many times it has gone heavily Republican even in bad years for the GOP) every single election since the 1996 Presidential race. The results then? Clinton - 44%  Dole - 43%

[Cubby]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

Not liberal at all, really.

Really? It's coastal and everything.

Are coastal areas usually liberal? I never heard of that. Anyway, no, Cape May county is not liberal.

Coastal States are more liberal, in a very broad sense. Except for the Carolinas and Georgia and excluding the Gulf Coast. Maybe he meant that coastal counties are more liberal in the same way. I've never been to Cape May, I thought it was a swing county but you're right that it usually votes Republican.

[TeePee4Prez]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

What about Cape May County?

Not liberal at all, really.

Really? It's coastal and everything.

Are coastal areas usually liberal? I never heard of that. Anyway, no, Cape May county is not liberal.

Coastal States are more liberal, in a very broad sense. Except for the Carolinas and Georgia and excluding the Gulf Coast. Maybe he meant that coastal counties are more liberal in the same way. I've never been to Cape May, I thought it was a swing county but you're right that it usually votes Republican.

South of NYC, the East Coast is pretty much conservative until you get to Miami with a few moderate blips on the radar.  You have to bear in mind Philly, Baltimore, and Washington are farther inland, yet for political purposes are considered "coastal."  Parts of even interior Southern NJ and the Delmarva could easily remind you of the rural South if you ever drove through.  Yes, I've even seen Confederate flags in South Jersey and there are actually blacks living in rural areas there (rare for the North).  IIRC, NJ was one of the last northern states to ban slavery.

[ottermax]

In the west, people are more liberal closer to the coasts.

[Verily]

Salem County, NJ is more liberal than Ocean County, NJ, I'd think.

More left-wing certainly. I'd hesitate to say more liberal; it might be more socially conservative. If I had to choose a socially liberal county in NJ that voted for Bush, Somerset and Morris would both be solid choices (but Somerset more than Morris). Still, both are very wealthy and considerably to the economic right. I would agree with the assessment of Salem as the most left-wing county in NJ to vote for Bush.

[Hatman 🍁]

Cayuga Co., NY
Pope Co., MN
Lincoln Co., WV
Hot Spring Co., AR
Manistee Co., MI