Top 20 Republican States, Ranked (2026)

Quick answer: The 20 most Republican states in 2026, ranked by 2024 presidential margin, are Wyoming, West Virginia, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, South Dakota, Mississippi, Louisiana, Utah, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas. Every one of them voted Republican for president in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and all but Kentucky and Kansas have a Republican governor and legislature.

“Republican state” can mean several things: how a state votes for president, who runs its government, or what its laws look like. This ranking uses the cleanest single measure, the 2024 presidential margin, and then adds the governor, legislature, and policy picture so you can see which states are red on paper and which are red in practice.

If you are using this list to decide where to move, the second half matters more than the first. A 30-point margin tells you your neighbors will vote like you. The policy column tells you what daily life looks like: taxes, school choice, gun laws, and cost of living.

Top 20 Republican States, Ranked (2024 Presidential Margin)

Margins are rounded from official 2024 presidential results. Alaska, Iowa, and Florida sit just outside the top 20 at roughly +13 each, and Ohio at about +11. Governor and legislature reflect 2026 control; tax notes are simplified, so check the state’s current rates before you move.

What the ranking shows

The deepest red states are the smallest

Seven of the top ten have fewer than two million residents. Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota combined have about the population of the Dallas–Fort Worth suburbs. They are as Republican as American states get, but they are also rural, cold in winter, and thin on jobs outside energy, agriculture, and government. Families who move there for the politics and stay for the lifestyle tend to be the ones who wanted rural life anyway.

The Southern block is where most families actually land

Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina are all top-20 red and all have growing metro areas, warmer weather, and lower housing costs than the coasts. Tennessee is the standout: a 30-point margin, no state income tax, and Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga all growing fast. It is the most common destination for our clients leaving California, Illinois, and the Northeast.

Texas and Florida are less red than their reputation, and it does not matter much

Texas ranks 20th and Florida just outside the list, because their big cities pull the statewide margin down. But both have Republican governors, Republican legislatures, no state income tax, and Republican control that has strengthened since 2020. For a family choosing a suburb, the county matters more than the state number: Collin County outside Dallas and most of the Florida Gulf Coast vote as red as anywhere on this list.

A Democratic governor does not make a state blue

Kentucky and Kansas both elected Democratic governors while voting Republican for president by 16 to 31 points. In both, a veto-proof Republican legislature sets policy. If you are moving for the laws rather than the governor’s mansion, they belong on this list.

Republican states with no income tax

Four states on this list levy no tax on wages: Wyoming, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Texas. Florida, Alaska, and New Hampshire also have no wage tax and lean Republican but fall outside the top 20 by margin. Mississippi has passed a phase-out that will eliminate its income tax over the coming years. Our state tax savings calculator shows what a move would mean for your household.

Which Republican state is right for your family?

The honest answer is that it depends on what you are leaving. Families leaving California usually want warm weather and a real job market, which points to Texas, Tennessee, Florida, or Arizona. Families leaving Washington or Oregon usually want mountains and space, which points to Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. Families leaving the Northeast tend to look at the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Florida.

Our red state quiz narrows it to two or three states in a few minutes. From there, a vetted local agent who lives in the community can tell you which counties and school districts fit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most Republican state in America?

Wyoming. Trump carried it by about 46 points in 2024, the widest margin of any state, and Republicans hold every statewide office and a supermajority in the legislature.

Is Texas still a Republican state?

Yes. Texas voted Republican for president by about 14 points in 2024, a wider margin than 2020, and Republicans control the governor’s office, both legislative chambers, and every statewide elected position.

Is Florida in the top 20 Republican states?

Just outside it by presidential margin, at roughly +13. By government control and voter registration, where Republicans now lead Democrats by well over a million voters, Florida is one of the most solidly Republican large states in the country.

What is the best Republican state to move to?

For most families it is Tennessee, Texas, or Florida, because they combine reliably conservative government with no income tax, growing job markets, and enough size to offer a suburb for every budget. Idaho is the usual answer for families who want a smaller, more rural state.

How is this list ranked?

By the Republican margin in the 2024 presidential election, using official state results. Governor, legislature, and tax columns reflect 2026 and are included so you can see which states are red in policy as well as at the ballot box.

Ready to make the move? Get started and we will match you with a vetted agent in the state you choose. Our referral service comes at no additional cost to you.