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Trivia answer

Since 1900, which state has backed the Republican presidential candidate in the most elections?
a. Alabama
b. Indiana
c. South Dakota
d. Texas

In the 30 presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Dakota has backed the Republican candidate 26 times—more than any other state. Democrats carried South Dakota in three elections; Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) carried it in 1932 and 1936 and Lyndon B. Johnson (D) carried it in 1964. In 1912, Progressive Party nominee Theodore Roosevelt won South Dakota.

Three other states—Indiana, Kansas, and North Dakota—backed a Republican candidate in 25 elections. Each of the three backed Democrats Woodrow Wilson (D) in 1912, Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) in 1932 and 1936, and Lyndon B. Johnson (D) in 1964. Kansas and North Dakota also backed Wilson in his 1916 re-election campaign, while Indiana backed Barack Obama (D) in 2008.

The state which backed the Republican candidate the fewest times is Hawaii, which has been carried by the Republican candidate in two elections. Richard Nixon (R) carried Hawaii in 1972, while Ronald Reagan (R) carried it in 1984. Although not a state, the District of Columbia has voted in each presidential election since 1964. It has never backed a Republican.

Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island each backed a Democratic presidential candidate in 20 of the 30 elections between 1900 and 2016, more than any other state. Alaska has backed a Democratic presidential candidate once—Lyndon B. Johnson (D) in 1964—fewer times than any other state.

For more on presidential voting trends, click here.

See also: Presidential voting trends by state and Presidential election accuracy data

The following chart shows the number of Democratic, Republican, and other party wins between 1900 and 2024. Some states had fewer than 32 elections during this time period.