[Dilbert San Diego]

This issue seems to be a common refrain in many states.

As noted, the NYC area is quite distinct from upstate New York.

Chicago is distinct from the rest of Illinois.

I’ve heard that western Maryland feels quite isolated, and dominated, politically and otherwise, from the metropolitan areas of that state in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

I’ve heard that most of Tennessee feels distinctly separate from Memphis. Yet Memphis has a large impact on the rest of the state politically.

I’ve sometimes wondered how America would be politically if we could disconnect the major cities from their states. Looking at recent elections, the rest of Illinois would likely be a solid Republican state in presidential elections, if not for Chicago being in the same state. I’m sure the same could happen in other places as well.

[metmom]

NYS is primarily red and that mostly outside the cities.

We just can’t overcome the momentum of NYC.

There’s just something about cities that makes them go blue. Maybe too much entitlement mentality.

[eyedigress]

Memphis has the slave holder Steve Cohen.

He is as cogent as Hank (don’t flip this island) Johnson.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’ve heard that western Maryland feels quite isolated, and dominated, politically and otherwise, from the metropolitan areas of that state in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

It is. Garrett County is as wild and rugged a territory as you'll find on the East Coast. Much more like West Virginia or the Great Smoky Mountains than what you think of when you say Maryland. Unfortunately the folks there are captive to the idiots in Baltimore and the D.C. suburbs when it comes to taxes, guns, environonsense, etc.

[Salamander]

There has been a Western Maryland secession movement for years.

We are nothing like the rest of the state.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-xpm-2013-09-14-bs-md-rodricks-0915-20130914-story.html

[freepertoo]

Eastern shore of Maryland, where I live, is nothing like the Western Shore.

[MplsSteve]

“Looking at recent elections, the rest of Illinois would likely be a solid Republican state in presidential elections, if not for Chicago being in the same state.”

Believe it or not, so would Minnesota!

[VeniVidiVici]

The Maryland 6th Congressional District stretches almost 170 miles from Potomac, Maryland to West Virginia.

The Democrats whine about gerrymandering but when it benefits them they are all in. This district stretches like it does, disenfranchising the Western Marylanders and ensuring the DC liberals living in Montgomery County are the ones who determines the representative.