Maryland and Virginia are really the only states on this list that are different simply because of borders.
-N.Mex. and Okla. are only slightly bordered
-Ill./Ind. is explained mostly (but not only) by Chicago
-Eastern Wash. is quite similar to Northern Idaho
-Inland Calif. is relatively conservative (and Ariz. is pretty moderate anyway)
-The other three pairings (Mass./N.H., N.Dak./Minn, Iowa/Neb.) have very different population densities (and western Iowa is also very conservative)
But MD and VA have comparable densities and race distributions, but are very different culturally and politically.
But we're compairing the states, not the parts of the states. Our states are pretty oddly divided; if they were defined more by the natural features states would probably have larger political differences.
And I figured out the refrsh thing, thanks though!
