Compared to constantly seeing the “winner takes all” election result maps, I think this type of map is a good reminder that a strong diversity of opinion exists in most states.

      • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        In case you aren’t American, that line is the Great Plains. It’s basically the dividing line between where it historically gets enough rain to farm, and where it’s dry enough that farming gives way to ranching.

          • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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            5 days ago

            The right side is where people farm and the left is more ranching. Obviously, there’s farms everywhere, but out west, it has to be irrigated, which can only be done cost effectively in certain locations.

            If you know where to look, you can even make out rivers. The Platte river crosses the great plains to Denver (the big blue area).

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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      5 days ago

      Yeah… The shades of reds/blues blend together making it extremely difficult to tell the degrees of mixture…

    • The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      This is literally the best thing that could happen to our democracy, in my opinion. Unfortunately it requires the 2 major parties to agree to give up some of their influence, so…

  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Washington isn’t purple. Washington is two States split in half by the Cascade mountains. It’s all blue on the West side, and all red on the East side.

    • Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      As someone on the east side, it hurts. I know Washington state was the only state to go more blue this election, but I’m sure the part that wants to become Super Idaho did their best (worst?) to change that.

      • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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        5 days ago

        Ah you mean White Insurrectionist Matt Shea who wanted to take the racist parts of East Washington and the racist parts of Idaho (which is most of the state) and form a new State?

    • candybrie@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Texas is gerrymandered to hell which means their reps and state legislature are very Republican. But it’s purple enough people recently frequently hope they can flip a Senate seat there.