An ideal city/town for me (mid 30s, foreign born professional woman, and loves travelling)

[salt of earth]

The suburbs of Richmond are still predominately conservative, that goes for Chesterfield and Hanover. Henrico has been the one that's gotten a lot more black and liberal over the past decade, particularly in the northwest, and the east end has a lot of democratic-voting blacks. The city is fairly liberal though except in the southwest, across the river in areas that border Chesterfield and the far west end on the northside where there are more country club style conservatives.

[popwar]

I will second the Reno and Las Vegas,NV areas. I am also in my mid 30s and in IT, mostly conservative views, but not political. I have personally looked at areas for some of the same reasons you are , besides the major airport for traveling because I like road trips, not air trips. I have my Radar on cities such as Reno,NV , Redding,CA (though it gets pretty hot , but not too humid like the east), Eureka,CA , Eugene,OR, Prescott,AZ and maybe Boise,ID. Not exactly in the heart of these cities , but pretty close by.

[ejisme]

Boise would be my first NW choice for you. Very dry, desert area with many miles of mountains to the north that feed the rivers and keep the reservoirs full, so more drought resistant than other desert west cities. Decent food scene, arts scene, growing regional airport with more direct flights added yearly. Lots of one connection flights too. Major University near downtown, but not really a college town. Home to Micron, which announced earlier this year a $15B expansion. Military base in far-suburb of Mountain Home ~50 miles away. As stated above the city votes blue, but socially more conservative. Also, Idaho is the least regulated state in the USA (from governor's reelection commercials). You should take a good look at the area and visit if you can.