The Most Conservative States in America
A clear, sourced ranking by the Cook Partisan Voting Index — and what conservative majorities do, and do not, mean for faithful self-government.
By the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the most conservative states in America are Wyoming (R+23), West Virginia (R+21), Idaho and North Dakota (R+18), and Oklahoma (R+17) — followed by a band of Deep South and Plains states. The full top-25 is below.
| # | State | Cook PVI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | R+23 |
| 2 | West Virginia | R+21 |
| 3 | Idaho | R+18 |
| 4 | North Dakota | R+18 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | R+17 |
| 6 | Alabama | R+15 |
| 7 | Arkansas | R+15 |
| 8 | Kentucky | R+15 |
| 9 | South Dakota | R+15 |
| 10 | TennesseeOur Home | R+14 |
| 11 | Louisiana | R+11 |
| 12 | Mississippi | R+11 |
| 13 | Utah | R+11 |
| 14 | Montana | R+10 |
| 15 | Nebraska | R+10 |
| 16 | Indiana | R+9 |
| 17 | Missouri | R+9 |
| 18 | Kansas | R+8 |
| 19 | South Carolina | R+8 |
| 20 | Alaska | R+6 |
| 21 | Iowa | R+6 |
| 22 | Texas | R+6 |
| 23 | Florida | R+5 |
| 24 | Ohio | R+5 |
| 25 | Arizona | R+2 |
Source: Cook Political Report Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI), 2024. PVI compares a state's two-party presidential vote to the national average; “% Conservative” reflects self-identification surveys where reported.
What the Partisan Voting Index actually measures
The Cook PVI is the most respected single number for partisan lean. It does not measure ideology directly; it measures how a place votes for president relative to the nation. An R+14 state like Tennessee votes roughly fourteen points more Republican than the country as a whole. That is a useful proxy for conservatism, but it is a measure of voting behavior, not of conviction, virtue, or governance.
Notice the pattern: the reddest states cluster in the Mountain West, the Plains, and the Deep South — regions with high church attendance, strong family structures, and a long memory of self-government. Conservatism here is not merely a vote. It is a culture.
A red map is not the same as a Christian government
Here is the hard truth conservatives rarely say out loud: winning elections is the easy part in these states. The harder work — the work that decides whether a conservative majority produces lasting good — is governance. Law, authority, civic obligation, and the formation of leaders who understand both Scripture and statecraft.
A conservative electorate is necessary but not sufficient. Without trained men who can translate conviction into wise, durable policy, even the reddest state drifts. That gap — between a conservative people and faithful self-government — is precisely the work of Christian statecraft.
Why this matters for men who want to act
If you live in one of these states, you are not a political minority pleading for a hearing. You are part of a governing majority — and with that comes responsibility. The question is no longer “how do we survive?” but “how do we build?”
The Institute for Christian Statecraft exists to form the men who will answer that question well: through fellowship, serious study, and practical training in how Christians get involved in politics at every level, from the county commission to the statehouse.
Frequently asked
What is the most conservative state in America?
By the Cook Partisan Voting Index (2024), Wyoming is the most conservative state at R+23, followed by West Virginia (R+21), Idaho and North Dakota (R+18), and Oklahoma (R+17).
How is "most conservative" measured?
The most rigorous measure is the Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI), which compares a state’s average Republican vs. Democratic share in the last two presidential elections to the national average. An "R+10" state votes about 10 points more Republican than the country as a whole. We also note the share of residents who self-identify as conservative where available.
Where does Tennessee rank?
Tennessee is the 10th most conservative state at R+14. It is also home to the Institute for Christian Statecraft, in Williamson County near Franklin.
Does a conservative state mean a Christian government?
No. A conservative electorate is necessary but not sufficient. Translating conservative majorities into wise, faithful, durable governance requires trained leaders, sound political theology, and institutions — which is the work of Christian statecraft.
Move from conviction to action
Conservative majorities don't govern themselves. Train with the Institute for Christian Statecraft.