WASHINGTON – A new study put out by Gallup shows that for the first time in their tracking history, red states outnumber blue, with 20 states solidly or leaning Republican and 14 states solidly or leaning Democrat.
Illinois is listed among the 14 "solidly Democrat" blue states – the only one in the Midwest – with a number that has dramatically dropped since 2008, when 35 states were in the Democrat category and five Republican.
But the study also shows political tension in blue Illinois, with more self-identified conservatives than liberals.
Gallup considers states to be solidly favoring one party when they have a greater-than 10-percentage-point advantage over the other in party affiliation among the state's adult population. "Leaning" states are those in which one party has an advantage of more than five points but less than 10 points. Competitive states show the parties within five points of each other.
Illinois shows a 10.8 point Democrat advantage.
But while Illinois is solidly Democrat, it is not solidly liberal in political philosophy. Actually, Gallup's polling shows Illinois with five percent more conservatives than liberals.
The stats show 31.0% of Illinoisans say they are "conservative," 25.9% identify as "liberal," and 37.2% consider themselves "moderate."
The rest of the study is HERE.
