The Electoral Map is a blog at the intersection of politics and geography.
Who would have thought 30 years ago that the Republicans would be a making a play for Minnesota while the Democrats would have their sights on Virginia? The electoral map has truly evolved. And as it continues to change, we’re going to be tracking it.
But this blog will focus on more than 2008. The Electoral Map will report on anything that has to do with the mapping of elections. We believe that maps tell the story behind the votes. So we’ll bring you the demographics, the history, the sports, the business and the stories that influence the map.
I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what we’re doing right and doing wrong.
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The Electoral Map is primarily written by Patrick Ottenhoff, an analyst for New Media Strategies and a former staff writer for National Journal Group and The Hotline. Ottenhoff graduated from Kent School and Union College and is a native of McLean, Va. His writings have appeared in National Journal, Politico, MSNBC.com and Huffington Post . He’s a Mark Warner-John Warner kind of voter.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Jay // Nov 2, 2007 at 3:51 pm
I think this website is great, it paints a very fresh and innovative picture of how politics affect people in this country.
My only complaint is this: Why is there a link to Bill Simmon’s website? As a Skin’s fan, I find it surprising that you would support a man who worships the Patriots and doesn’t give a damn about any DC sports. There are enough people in America who have jumped on the “Everything New England” bandwagon, and I don’t think there is any more room.
You seem like an educated person, who has strong roots here in the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Do yourself a favor and lose the link to Simmon’s website. It is bad enough that everyone who lives in DC (regardless of where they are actually from) root for the Red Sox, you don’t need to add to the problem on your website.
2 SDM // Nov 16, 2007 at 3:06 pm
This site is great! It’s exactly the kind of stuff I seek out online. If you haven’t seen it, I think you’ll enjoy the NYT analysis of lasy year’s Senate races, which has some great maps (click the “state by state” tab to get county-by-county breakdowns of key states in 2006 and 2004).
3 Jay // Nov 28, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Great to see a website like this. I host a yahoo group electionwatch2006 which will soon be changed to electionwatch2008, which is about the political demography of America’s neighborhoods.
As a former redistricting analyst for the Fl legislature and poltiical GIS consultant, I have produced many maps showing election results at the precinct level. If you need anything for a specific election, please let me know.
My yahoo group is aimed at examining politics in America’s neighborhoods - showing the unique demographics and politics of our many varied communities by looking at election results, polls and census data, etc.
Thanks again for your efforts in this much needed area.
Jay O’Callaghan
4 vjp // Dec 8, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Interesting site. And since you’re in Virginia, all the better
I’ll be reading.
5 SH // Jan 8, 2008 at 5:39 pm
great site. just added it to my rss feed.
here is another site that I just subscribed to and think you may enjoy.
http://politicalmaps.org
6 LS // Jan 27, 2008 at 8:39 am
Very nice blog, friend. It’s good to know that so many people really are paying attention to what’s going on these days.
It will be a close race, no matter how you slice it. I hope the democrats will nominate a candidate who can successfully debate in the general election.
That’s where the REAL test happens.
7 Alexander Kireev // Apr 7, 2008 at 3:51 am
I really enjoy your site. Good job! You will definitely find my website interesting - electoralgeography.com
8 DGA // May 14, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Very worthwhile site. But one thing you aren’t doing right - how do you get an RSS feed?
9 Nigel Eccles // Sep 4, 2008 at 10:36 am
I just found this site through one of your tweets on twitter. This is fascinating. The US electoral system is so rich and complex.
I thought you might like our electoral forecast which is based on our underlying prediction markets: http://www.hubdub.com/election_map
10 Krys Johnson // Sep 17, 2008 at 8:24 am
I would like to see the national electoral map (as it stands now, based on polling), compared side-by-side with a map showing the states with below the median level of education (and/or income) in red vs. above-the-median, in blue. I predict those maps would look very similar.
11 Teofilo // Oct 4, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I seriuosly believed that is time to come together for chance , so the republicans have been in the white House for the last 4 years and our nation is foulling apart , which mean their strageties as a leader hasn’t comply with democracy, although I feel like the American people should be more seriuos about it and give their vote to Barack, young leader with alots of positive perpestive and good energy because in America it not space for republican politicians over,please wake up american and vote , get the republicans out of Washington today not in november 4th.
12 nimh // Oct 20, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Thanks for featuring a map of mine on your blog earlier this month (”More on the Geography of the “No” Votes”). Much appreciate it, especially because I faithfully read your blog. It always has interesting info.
I have a couple of new maps on our blog that may also be of interest, hope you will give them a look:
The red and blue states of white* America
(*and hispanic)
http://observationalism.com/2008/10/20/the-red-and-blue-states-of-white-america-and-hispanic/
Keep up the good work!
13 toby // Oct 21, 2008 at 4:05 am
Patrick,
This is a great website. The updates are sparse but always interesting.
You should publicize it more. It deserves a greater readership.
Toby
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