Montgomery County, located in the state of Maryland, is renowned for its diverse population. It has seen a steady rise in its black, Latino, and Asian residents, although it is still predominantly white at around 75%. This county also has the largest Jewish population in the state, accounting for 45% of Maryland's Jews. Joe Landis, who lives in Harleysville, located just below the north county's red stripe, noted that he didn't observe any major changes in the political atmosphere in his area until Donald Trump ran for president. At the start of each election cycle, Cook's Political Report publishes an analysis of the partisan political stance of the 435 congressional districts of the United States.
In 1997, when this report was first released, Maryland's districts were significantly more competitive. Ruy Teixeira, a political scientist at the Center for American Progress, has extensively studied how demographic changes and voter behavior are correlated. He believes that the radical long-term change in the county has less to do with changes in voters' political beliefs and more to do with changes in the political parties themselves. Atterbeary and Wilkins are two influential political figures in Montgomery County; Wilkins heads the Electoral Law subcommittee within the Ways and Means committee. Supporters of this change argue that it is more democratic and gives voters in legislative districts across the state more decision-making power when it comes to electing their representatives. What Teixeira sees in places that have shifted their views, such as Montgomery County, is not necessarily that the total number of minority voters is altering the political equation.
Trump reinforced his already considerable margins in rural counties among white voters who hadn't attended college, while President-elect Joe Biden cut those margins while increasing them in the suburbs, particularly outside Philadelphia. Montgomery County is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse counties in America; four of the ten most culturally diverse cities and towns in the United States are located here. It is evident that this county has a unique political landscape compared to other counties across America.
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