Top Ten Conservative Cities in America

Human Events ^ | May 2, 2006 | Editors of Human Events

[Reagan Man]

10. Cincinnati, Ohio Home of GOP Rep. Steve Chabot (ACU lifetime: 98%; 2005: 96%) who won his seat by campaigning for the balanced budget amendment and against abortion. Only Ohio Republican to oppose prescription-drug bill. Called "too conservative" by Democrat opponents, but city's district has re-elected him five times. Boasts conservative Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell as a former mayor.

9. Boise, Idaho Boise's 2nd District is described as "one of America’s most Republican districts" by The Almanac of American Politics. Represented by Mike Simpson (ACU lifetime: 90%; 2005: 92%), who replaced conservative former Rep. Mike Crapo when he ran for the Senate. Conservative former Senator-turned Governor-turned Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne was once mayor.

8. Mesa, Ariz. Founded by Mormons. Republican Jeff Flake (ACU lifetime: 94%; 2005: 96%), who led the fight for Arizona's charter school law and favors eliminating the income tax and creating a national sales tax, represents Mesa’s district. The Almanac of American Politics says, "The district's cultural tone is resolutely middle class, hard-working and churchgoing. By most measures it is the most Republican district in Republican Arizona."

7. Clarksville, Tenn. Home of Fort Campbell (though the Post Office is in Kentucky, a majority of the base is actually in Tennessee). Represented by reliably anti-tax GOPer Marsha Blackburn (ACU lifetime: 97%; 2005: 100%), who organized rallies to oppose a state income tax and won her seat by running as a pro-life, pro-military and pro-2nd Amendment conservative.

6. Wichita, Kan. Has sent Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt (ACU lifetime: 97%; 2005: 96%) to the U.S. House since the 1994 GOP revolution when he defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman. Tiahrt was raised a Democrat but found that his strong religious views were more in line with the Republican Party. Protection of gun rights has been a major local issue and is one of Tiahrt's signature agenda items.

5. Colorado Springs, Colo. Location of the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base and Schriver Air Force Base. Represented by GOP Rep. Joel Hefley (ACU lifetime: 95%; 2005: 84%). Home of James Dobson's Focus on the Family. The Almanac of American Politics calls this "birthplace of Colorado's anti-tax initiatives" "a center of conservative Christianity, the home of Colorado's young conservatism, the counterpoint to Denver's aging liberalism."

4. Abilene, Tex. City's 19th District is represented by Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer (ACU lifetime: 93%; 2005: 100%) who defeated longtime Democrat Rep. Charlie Stenholm. Cultural leaning heavily influenced by the three religiously affiliated private universities there: Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University.

3. Oklahoma City, Okla. Very much a pro-oil city. According to The Almanac of American Politics, "Oil rigs were pumping crude on the grounds of the then-domeless Capitol until 1989; a derrick still stands sentinel outside the governor's window." Represented by GOP Rep. Ernest Istook (ACU lifetime: 94%; 2005: 96%) who says, "Oklahoma has the kind of values that the rest of the nation needs to have."

2. Plano, Tex. Has one of the most conservative congressmen, Republican Sam Johnson (ACU lifetime: 99%; 2005: 96%), who opposes all pork, was a founder of the conservative Republican Study Committee, sponsors a constitutional amendment to repeal the 16th Amendment every Congress and has been easily re-elected since taking office in 1991. City has not raised tax rates for more than 15 years.

1. Provo, Utah Represented by Republican Chris Cannon (ACU lifetime rating: 97%; 2005: 100%). Home of conservative Brigham Young University. Named "Most Conservative City" by non-partisan Bay Area Center for Voting Research in 2005. According to New York Sun, Provo Mayor Lewis Billings responded to city's conservative title by noting that "around 75% of [Provo] residents ... are members" of the Mormon Church and that "I don't think people in our community will be all that surprised. We are what we are."

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I can tell you that Wichita is more conservative than not, but the NOT portion is very liberal. It can get very ugly. But it's ugliness doesn't hold a candle to Johnson County.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Air Force Academy Bump!

[aligncare]

I wonder where Ithaca is on this list?

[ExpatGator]

Springfield, MO ought to be on the list.

[stopem]

Plano TX is one of the best cities in my area and it should be a model for other cities.

[piceapungens]

Provo votes more Republican than almost any other city in the country. More than any city outside Utah, certainly.

After 6 years of Bush it should be obvious that Republican does not equal conservative.

[Redbob]

What a fun place!

"early Plano settlers wasted nothing. During hog butchering season, hog bladders would be blown up with air like giant balloons, and put away until Christmas. Then, during holiday parties, the bladders were used as party poppers, with the loud noises sending cheers and “bladder busting” a popular feature at holiday time!"
- Plano website

[tfecw]

"Plano TX is one of the best cities in my area and it should be a model for other cities."

Heroin still the choice drug of the kids there?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Also, it seems rather lame to only define these cities' conservatism by whoever they chose to represent them in Congress. Some of these towns had little say in their representative--for example, I think Neugebauer was first sent to Congress by a district that didn't include Abilene. Why not talk about mayors, local initiatives, and local institutions more?

Good point.

[FishFace222]

"No surprise to find that the liberal cities on average are far more crime-ridden than the conservative ones."

Shows you how well gun control works.

[wardaddy]

Williamson County TN

Rankin County Miss.

Mountainbrook AL

Vidor TX...no klan jokes please

Camden SC

Naples FL (used to be)

Florida Panhandle....no doubt

Southwestern Virginia (Roanoke etc)

[Sundog]

1. Provo, Utah

Does my heart good.

[SoDak]

I think the authors expect us to make the assumption that every major college town is a liberal cesspool, whether it's LawrenceKS, Iowa CityIA, BoulderCo, ColumbiaMO, or even MissoulaMT.

[Lesforlife]

If Wichita is so conservative, why is it home to the notorious,
late term abortionist, George Tiller?

When Operation Save America did their national protest in
front of his "clinic" he fired up his ovens so that the aborted
babies' ashes could fall on the heads of the protesters!!

[Recon Dad]

Cincinnati is really not conservative it's the surrounding counties of Warren and Butler that are the conservative bastions.

[showme_the_Glory]

Rockwall is the smallest county in TX. The town of Rockwall is is one of the most liberal. Highest taxes too.

[bobjam]

Jacksonville is one of the few coastal cities that could make the list. The Bible Belt, the Navy and southern rock come together here. (Yes, Corrine Brown is technically from here thanks to a district that snakes around the city and down to Orlando).

[bobjam]

Clay County, Florida

[eleni121]

Thanks for the list. And thanks too for letting us see the top ten conservative businesses. I know where to spend money now.

[Reagan Man]

George Tiller is an evil, monstrous bastard.