What's the most politically diverse county in the most politically diverse state? (home, school)

[123MoltenCore]

I've often wondered about what the most politically diverse regions in the country are. I live in Maryland, we have Anne Arundel county which is very politically diverse. But it is in a solidly blue state. Are there any 50/50 counties in border states like Ohio, Florida or North Carolina?

[dxdtdemon]

Until recently, Franklin County, OH (Columbus and most of its suburbs) was pretty close to 50/50. However, despite being a solidly red county, I think my home county of Greene County, OH is diverse in another way in that there is one of the most liberal small towns in Yellow Springs and one of the most socially conservative small towns in Cedarville just a few miles apart from each other. Add to that an Air Force base and two HBCUs, and while there is an extreme variety of opinions about various political issues.

[Natural510]

Originally Posted by dxdtdemon

Until recently, Franklin County, OH (Columbus and most of its suburbs) was pretty close to 50/50. However, despite being a solidly red county, I think my home county of Greene County, OH is diverse in another way in that there is one of the most liberal small towns in Yellow Springs and one of the most socially conservative small towns in Cedarville just a few miles apart from each other. Add to that an Air Force base and two HBCUs, and while there is an extreme variety of opinions about various political issues.

Outside of YS though, the county as a whole is very conservative, thanks mainly to Beavercreek's population numbers.

I'd say Montgomery County (which is mostly the city of Dayton) is the most diverse, though you can draw a line down the middle of the city to decide how most people will vote.

This is a school-levy vote, but pretty much mirrors how national elections go also (West/Black/Democratic vs East/White/Republican):

Daytonology: October 2008

Montgomery County went 51% Obama and 48% Romney in 2012 and 52% Obama and 46% McCain in 2008.

//www.city-data.com/elec08/MONTGOMERY-OHIO.html

[aries4118]

Gwinnett County in Georgia.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Los Angeles County, California and possibly Harris County, TX

[ragnarkar]

Sacramento County in California, at least until themost recent election.

Now it might be Orange county, which traditionally voted Republican for many decades but went for the Dems in 2016.

California is a fairly politically diverse state though it leans to the left overall, but you won't have much trouble finding a community you'll click with somewhere in the state if you're a Republican simply due to the sheer size.

[Eumaois]

With all the people in NYC and surrounding areas, I would think that part of the country would be a candidate for such diversity.

[sad_hotline]

Bucks County near my hometown is a major battleground county (so much so that CNN had a report there during the 2016 elections), although I would say it's far more centrist attitudes creating a 50/50 split than political extremes.

[OyCrumbler]

Are there any counties that have seen a significant third party presence?

[jas75]

Pinellas County, Florida is a heavily populated purple county in a purple state that voted for Trump by a very small margin in 2016. The city of Saint Petersburg and other areas in the southern part leans Democratic, while the north above Clearwater leans Republican. It doesn't have rural areas, but otherwise is a fairly representative part of America where it's safe to assume that a random draw of people have a wide variety of experiences and beliefs.