Western United States

==Politics==
[[File:Map of USA medicinal marijuana.svg|thumb|States where state-level laws allowed legalized medicinal marijuana [[Gonzales v. Raich|before 2005]]]]
{{Map of legality surrounding assisted suicide in the US|align=left|size=220px}}
[[File:Map of USA highlighting states with no income tax.svg|thumb|States that have no [[income tax]] at the [[State income tax|state level]]]]
{{Further|Coastal California#Politics|Left Coast}}

The region's distance from historical centers of power in the East, and the celebrated "[[frontier]] spirit" of its settlers offer two clichés for explaining the region's independent, heterogeneous politics.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} Historically, the West was the first region to see widespread [[Women's suffrage in the United States|women's suffrage]], with women casting votes in [[Utah]] and [[Wyoming]] as early as 1870, five decades before the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|19th Amendment]] was ratified by the nation. [[California]] birthed both the [[Right to property|property rights]] and [[conservation movement]]s, and spawned such phenomena as the [[California Proposition 13 (1978)|Taxpayer Revolt]] and the Berkeley [[Free Speech Movement]]. It has also produced three presidents: [[Herbert Hoover]], [[Richard Nixon]], and [[Ronald Reagan]].

The prevalence of [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] political attitudes is widespread. For example, the majority of Western states have legalized [[medicinal marijuana]] (all but [[Idaho]] and [[Wyoming]]) and some forms of gambling (except [[Utah]]); [[Colorado]], [[Oregon]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and [[Montana]] have legalized [[Assisted suicide|physician-assisted suicide]]; most rural counties in [[Nevada]] allow licensed brothels, and voters in [[Alaska]], [[Colorado]], [[Nevada]], [[California]], [[Oregon]], and [[Washington (state)|Washington]] have legalized recreational use of marijuana.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Marijuana Legalization Passes in Oregon, Alaska, D.C.|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/11/05/marijuana_legalization_oregon_alaska_and_d_c_pass_ballot_measures.html|work =Slate|date=November 5, 2014 |first = Jonathan L.|last= Fischer }}</ref>

[[California]], [[Oregon]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Nevada]], [[Colorado]], [[Hawaii]] and [[New Mexico]] lean toward the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. In recent times, as seen in the [[2020 United States presidential election]] and [[2022 Arizona gubernatorial election]], [[Arizona]] is also beginning to lean towards the Democratic Party as well. [[San Francisco]]'s two main political parties are the Green Party and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. One of the longest-serving Democratic congressional leaders is from the region: former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] of [[California]].

[[Alaska]] and most [[Mountain states]] are more [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], with [[Alaska]], [[Idaho]], [[Montana]], [[Utah]], and [[Wyoming]] being Republican strongholds. The state of [[Arizona]] has been won by the Republican presidential candidate in every election except three times since 1948, but in 2020 Arizona voted Democratic. Also, in 2018 and 2020, the GOP lost both U.S. Senate seats in Arizona to the Democrats. The states of [[Idaho]], [[Utah]], and [[Wyoming]] have been won by every Republican presidential nominee since 1964.

The state of [[Nevada]] is considered a political bellwether, having correctly voted for every president except twice (in 1976 and 2016) since 1912. [[New Mexico]] too is considered a bellwether, having voted for the popular vote winner in every presidential election since statehood, except in 1976.

As the fastest-growing demographic group, after [[Asian people|Asians]], [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]]s are hotly contested by both parties. Immigration is an important political issue for this group. Backlash against undocumented immigrants led to the passage of [[California Proposition 187]] in 1994, a ballot initiative which would have denied many public services to them. Association of this proposal with California Republicans, especially incumbent governor [[Pete Wilson]], drove many Hispanic voters to the Democrats.<ref>Stephen D. Cummings and Patrick B. Reddy, ''California after Arnold'' (2009) pp. 165–170</ref>

The following table shows the breakdown of party affiliation of governors, attorneys general, state legislative houses, and U.S. congressional delegation for the Western states, {{as of|2019|lc=y}}.

{|class="wikitable"
|- align=center
! State !! Governor !! Attorney General !! Upper House Majority !! Lower House Majority !! Senior U.S. Senator !! Junior U.S. Senator !! U.S. House Delegation 
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Alaska|AK]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />13–7
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />23–16–1
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />1–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Arizona|AZ]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic 
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />16–14
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />31–29
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Independent 
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />6–3
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in California|CA]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />29–11
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />61–19
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />42–11
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Colorado|CO]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />19–16
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />41–24
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />4–3
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Hawaii|HI]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />24–1
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />46–5
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />2–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Idaho|ID]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />28–7
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />56–14
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />2–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Montana|MT]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />30–20
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />58–42
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />1–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Nevada|NV]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />13–8
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />29–13
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />3–1
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in New Mexico|NM]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />26–16
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />46–24
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />2–1
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Oregon|OR]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />19–11
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />38–22
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />4–1
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Utah|UT]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />23–6
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />59–16
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />4–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Washington (state)|WA]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />28–21
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />57–41
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />7–3
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Wyoming|WY]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />28–2
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />51–7–2
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />1–0
|}

The following table shows the breakdown of party affiliation of governors, attorneys general, state legislative houses, and U.S. congressional delegation for the outlying areas of the Western United States, {{as of|2020|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americansamoa.gov |title=Home |website=Americansamoa.gov |access-date=June 30, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Northern_Mariana_Islands_Commonwealth_Legislature |work=Ballotpedia.org |title=Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature |access-date=June 30, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://guamlegislature.com/index/ |title=The 36th Guam Legislature |website=guamlegislature.com |access-date=June 30, 2020 }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|- align=center
! Territory !! Governor !! Attorney General !! Upper House Majority !! Lower House Majority !! Senior U.S. Senator !! Junior U.S. Senator !! U.S. House Delegation 
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in American Samoa|AS]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
||{{refn|group=note|In 2020 [[Mitzie Jessop Taase]] was the acting attorney general of [[American Samoa]]. It is unclear which political party she belongs to.}}
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Non-Partisan<br />18–0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Non-Partisan<br />21–0
|None|None
|None|None
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />1–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in Guam|GU]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Independent
|colspan="2"{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />10–5 (unicameral)
||None
||None
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic<br />1–0
|- align=center
! nowrap|[[Political party strength in the Northern Mariana Islands|MP]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />6–0–3
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican<br />13–0–7
||None
||None
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Independent<br />1–0
|}