Lewis County, NY - Sorta Red, Sorta Purple

Jefferson Community College’s Center for Community Studies conducts annual community surveys for both Jefferson and Lewis Counties.  The 2010 survey report for Lewis County is now available, and it is a fascinating read.

Lewis County, NY, Windmills

One of the most intriguing findings reported in the survey is the county’s ideological-political profile.  The researchers found that 9% of Lewis County residents consider themselves “very conservative” and just 3% “very liberal.”  Another 27% label themselves “conservative” and 9% call themselves “liberal,” which comes to 36% conservative and 12% liberal.  That conservatives outnumber liberals by a three to one margin is hardly surprising, but what is a little surprising is that 41% of those surveyed selected “middle of the road” from the survey while only 12% (the 9% very conservative and 3% very liberal) are ideologically hardcore.  The general image most people have of Lewis County is that it is deep red Republican turf.  Certainly, the county—like the nation—tends to be conservative, but if these figures are correct the “lean to the right” is less pronounced and the county more balanced than is generally supposed.