Guide to The Fifty: Appalachia
Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia
Tennessee: The Three Tennessees
Tennessee is split into three geographically and culturally distinct “Grand Divisions.” The state’s politics are much more nuanced when diving into the differences between the state’s three regions.
Kentucky: Resource and Wealth Extraction
When Democrats joined forces with coal-averse environmentalists, Kentucky voters flipped to supporting Republicans who vowed to fight the “War on Coal.”
Maryland: America in Miniature
With cities, mountains, beaches and farms, Maryland truly is "America in Miniature." See how voting patterns match up with educational attainment.
West Virginia: The Legacy of Coal
Due to West Virginia’s historical reliance on resource extraction, much of its land is owned by private corporations which shifts political power away from residents.
Virginia: Critical Race Theory
Virginia holds a highly diverse and educated electorate. Republicans have pushed critical race theory as a wedge issue in hopes that anger surrounding the topic will flip the state’s governor seat to their party.
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