Do the Tri-cities trend liberal or conservative?

[M3 Mitch]

I think the Tri leans more libertarian, in views, than old-south type religious based conservatism. There are a lot of STEM people around here, and as one of them, I will say that we as a group lean towards pragmatism, so we tend to reject things that can't be proven or demonstrated (religion) and things that don't work or don't work as intended (most classical, Hillary type liberal policies). Many have advanced degrees and remember days of self-denial as a "starving student", and so tend to think the people Hillary would call "less fortunate" could better themselves if they would exert the effort.

[pnwguy2]

Yes, this topic has been around for awhile. It is evident that Benton and Franklin Counties both still vote republican overall, but as M3 mentions, this is a more libertarian vibe than stalwort conservative. I believe there are many conservative democrats who live in the Tri, and they will vote candidates that reflect their views, regardless of party. The upcoming WA Presidential Primary will be interesting because the rules say you must select a party to participate. I still encourage everyone to participate. It is too important not to.

[pnwguy2]

Washington’s primary has been moved up this year and is more important than ever before. Received my primary vote mailer today. Shows several candidates that have dropped out but the beauty is you can still vote for them, but I’m not sure why anyone would. You can register to vote for the primary anytime before 8pm March 10th.

[TCHP]

Tri-Cities looks like a mix. Pasco is fairly solid left, Kennewick and Richland are left leaning. There is a lot of conservative leaning in between and all around.

New York Times created a map that broke down the last presidential election to a precinct level. Gives a much better feel of specific neighborhoods than a city or county wide summary.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...inct-maps.html

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by TCHP

Tri-Cities looks like a mix. Pasco is fairly solid left, Kennewick and Richland are left leaning. There is a lot of conservative leaning in between and all around.

New York Times created a map that broke down the last presidential election to a precinct level. Gives a much better feel of specific neighborhoods than a city or county wide summary.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...inct-maps.html

Nice interact map there! And sure enough I apparently vote like my neighbors!

[Javster]

Originally Posted by Moon Waffle

Extremely conservative. Fiscally and socially. Usually the two counties that the TC encompasses are among the most conservative voting counties in the state.

It's rather ironic when the area lives and breathes by the Federal Government funding it receives at Hanford. It's also quite comical how worked up the residents get when the state so regularly passes very liberal policies and laws.

I will agree that there is a strong "live and let live" mentality though. If you ask for an opinion, you'll get it, but if you don't, people will generally leave you alone in your choice of lifestyle/politics/etc.

They are more liberal than you think, but yes. I'd actually say that the majority of the population is either libertarian or conservative. Richland and Pasco lean conservative, but Kennewick is defenitely libertarian. However, I will predict by 2024, Kennewick would have transitioned to liberal, and Richland to libertarian, Pasco would still be majority conservative

[Javster]

It actually. varies a LOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT depending on where you are in town, new downtown Kennewick is lean liberal,downtown Pasco is split, and downtown Richland is conservative.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by Javster

They are more liberal than you think, but yes. I'd actually say that the majority of the population is either libertarian or conservative. Richland and Pasco lean conservative, but Kennewick is defenitely libertarian. However, I will predict by 2024, Kennewick would have transitioned to liberal, and Richland to libertarian, Pasco would still be majority conservative

Not sure about Pasco "conservative". The area still leans hispanic, and "conservative" usually doesn't get their votes. I think the Tri, in general is growing closer to "liberal". Though the changes may be incremental and small. I think very mixed here in 2020.