Understanding Illinois Political Landscape And Its Classification As A Blue State

How Illinois Became A Democratic Stronghold And What It Means For Voters

Illinois Support in National Elections.

For decades, Illinois has been a bastion for Democratic presidential candidates. In 1992, the scenario of the state's voting subtlety for Republican candidates in presidential elections flipped when it supported Bill Clinton. Since then, Illinois has continued to support the Democratic Party, voting for Chicagoan Barack Obama by wide margins in 2008 and 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020. Due to this consistent pattern of voting, the state of Illinois has been classified as a blue state in the greater national context.

The progressive ideas in big, crowded cities of the state have flourished and eventually impact its political culture. Peculiarly, Chicago has immense influence on the voting pattern of Illinois Democrats. Due to the liberal politics of Chicago, being the biggest city in the state, its influence often spills over into the entire state and causes suburban areas and even some rural areas to support the Democratic Party, especially during presidential elections.

The state of Illinois has always been imperative in terms of a balance on the red and blue map since, being one of the so-called blue states, it possesses as many as 20 electoral votes, which play a great role in trying to steer national elections.

Illinois Legislative Branch and its Democratic Control

Besides the presidential elections, Democrats run Illinois's state legislature. Democrats control both the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives. Supremacy has greatly shaped such state policies as progressive legislation regarding healthcare, education, labor rights, and criminal justice reform.

With its hold on the state legislature, the Illinois Democratic Party is therefore in a position to push a raft of progressive policies in tune with its credo. One such policy concern involves how the State has positioned itself on clean energy and climate change. New York, led by the largely liberal electorate, has taken the lead both in advancing renewable energy projects and reducing carbon emissions.

On the forefront of many social justice issues, including criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive rights, has been Illinois. In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in 2022, Illinois expanded abortion services and was among the first states to legalize same-sex marriage.

Voter Demographics and How It Affects the Political Landscape in Illinois

Another important consideration of the political landscape of Illinois would be the diversified demographic composition of the state. A large number of Latino groups, African American communities, and Asian American groupings are contained within the state as ethnic minorities. 

These would generally tend to vote for the Democratic Party on account of that party's position on social justice, immigration, and civil rights.Others argue that since the minority group has gained much power in the state, especially in the megacities of the United States such as Chicago, Illinois has emerged to be an indispensable state to the Democratic Party during national elections. To that end, Democrats have always relied on African American and Latino voters to deliver them victories in Chicago.

Diversity in generations and ethnicities in Illinois affects political development. Millennial and Gen Z groups turn more liberal on issues of healthcare, social equality, and climate change. Should these young generations keep up being an increasingly large part of the electorate, they are going to keep influencing the politics of Illinois and improve its image as a blue state.