Blue Cities in Southern Red States: Implications for Society, Politics, and the Future

Phoenix Rosalee Poole

While most Southern types (e.g. South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas) typically lean “red” (i.e. they are primarily Republican and dominated by conservative ideologies and practices), many major cities in these states (e.g. Columbia, Asheville, Nashville, Austin) are quite “blue” (i.e. they are primarily Democratic and dominated by more liberal ideologies in practices). This paper explores the history, sociology, and politics behind this contradiction and investigates whether blue cities in red states are becoming more common. Key explanations, including the role of government, the presence of colleges and universities, the presence of minorities, tourism, and the impact of COVID are all presented. As US society becomes more polarized, the blue city/red state phenomenon is likely to become more pronounced in the years ahead.

• Phoenix Poole graduated from Spring Hill High School in Chapin, South Carolina. She is a freshman political science major with a minor in pre-law.