Just how politically Conservative is Cincinnati? (Columbus, Cleveland: employment, university, wage)

[Oldschooler81]

As a bit of a sociological and political junkie, that thread about Jerry (i.e. being quite liberal and making a name for himself in politics in the 70s and early 80s, then in local news into the early 90s) made me curious to ask, especially in a modern day context what Cincy is like?

While Ohio is (kinda) the Midwest and close to "the South", I think almost any big city will have some diversity and I'm guessing it's more the suburbs and outerlying rural areas that lean more right-wing. Even here in the SF Bay Area it's not as black and white as it might seem. Certainly not everyone is a surfer, a movie star, or a hippie (although I tend to click with all of those types, lol).

[cincydave8]

Oh boy.... This could get interesting. But basically the city votes Democrat while the suburbs vote Republican.

The city is not a mecca of liberalism and currently has a conservative Democrat Mayor, but it voted 80% for Obama, hasn't had a Republican mayor for decades (Republicans rarely even run a candidate for mayor) and there are some great liberal champions on city council. Smaller liberal causes have been passed recently including living wage and paid leave for city employees, 100% rating from Human Rights Council, banning official travel to NC but we still have fights over bike lanes and mass transit that tend to turn quite political.

[Briolat21]

Agreed that the city is reliably more progressive than the suburbs..

However - the city only has about 1/4 to 1/3 the population of the entire metro area - so unless you are in the city and never leave, the overall feeling of the area leans conservative.

[Chemistry_Guy]

I have found that most people don't really have any idea about what political ideologies are all about, but when they are forced to pick a side on a dichotomous electoral issue, they follow their perceived self interest. In Cincinnati, this translates to an urban electorate that is 'progressive' by apparent necessity: the urban population favors policies that favor a centralization of prosperity in the core and the more suburban population favors policies that promise to push urban blight back towards the center. It gets a bit more complex on social issues, but I feel that economic issues are the drivers and the social issues are along for the ride. The true underlying issues such as the balance between freedom and security, individualism vs. collectivism, and the role of the state in economic development are just invoked by either side whenever it is convenient.

[GearHeadDave]

I think you would conclude that it is conservative, but like a poster said above, a lot of people everywhere, not just in Cincinnati really don't think about politics very deeply these days. It's all about what "feels good" which is how you get jokers like Jerry Springer on the Left and Donald Trump on the Right.

As far as voting, Ohio is reliably Republican everywhere except the urban centers of Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland.

[Misfit Toy]

There may be a lot of Republicans around here, especially outside Cincinnati's city limits, but not many of them are conservative in the true sense of the word.


I went through part of the interview process for a job with Hamilton County many years ago. The interview process confirmed what was widely believed, which was the County was a hotbed for nepotism even by government employment standards. It was implied to me in no uncertain terms that I would be expected to hire some VIP's idiot nephew or another VIP's mistress whether or not they were really qualified for the position. Because of that and other things, I was sufficiently disgusted that I withdrew from the process.


So, based on that experience plus other observations, most of the "conservatives" around here are really RINOs.

[h Steve]

Originally Posted by Chemistry_Guy

I have found that most people don't really have any idea about what political ideologies are all about, but when they are forced to pick a side on a dichotomous electoral issue, they follow their perceived self interest. In Cincinnati, this translates to an urban electorate that is 'progressive' by apparent necessity: the urban population favors policies that favor a centralization of prosperity in the core and the more suburban population favors policies that promise to push urban blight back towards the center. It gets a bit more complex on social issues, but I feel that economic issues are the drivers and the social issues are along for the ride. The true underlying issues such as the balance between freedom and security, individualism vs. collectivism, and the role of the state in economic development are just invoked by either side whenever it is convenient.

Amen...

[lydunn]

Most republicans I know are in the closet..they preach one thing and do the same.

[ohioaninsc]

Originally Posted by GearHeadDave

I think you would conclude that it is conservative, but like a poster said above, a lot of people everywhere, not just in Cincinnati really don't think about politics very deeply these days. It's all about what "feels good" which is how you get jokers like Jerry Springer on the Left and Donald Trump on the Right.

As far as voting, Ohio is reliably Republican everywhere except the urban centers of Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland.

Athens County actually is the most liberal county in the state...of course its dominated by Ohio University.

Otherwise, this is an accurate description...it explains (along w/ Gerrymandering by the GOP controlled state legislature) why in 2012, in Ohio, Democratic Congressmen and women received 150,000 more votes than the Republicans did, but 12 Republicans and 4 Democrats were elected to the US House.

The city, especially the urban core is fairly progressive for the Midwest.

[censusdata]

Cincinnati has more establishment Republicans than most metro areas, but I've never sensed that there are many "bitter guns and religion clingers".