The Political Implications of Southern Regional Identification in Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia

ABSTRACT Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia occupy a unique place on the American political landscape. They have never been fully embraced as Southern by most observers, but at the same time they are not necessarily considered purely Northern or Midwestern states. As the intersection of North and South in the United States, these states present a unique opportunity to study the impact of regional identity on public opinion. Utilizing data from 2018 surveys of a random sample of these states residents, we demonstrate that Southern regional identification is fairly high in these states, and that this identification has a significant influence on opinion regarding politicians and policy preferences.