"Distress 'Burbs" are the Hot Political Battlegrounds of Today

Forget swing states, Richard Florida says, suburbs are today’s political battlegrounds.

1 minute read

December 2, 2013, 7:00 AM PST

By Anna Bergren Miller @abergrenmiller


In a recent feature for Politico magazine, Florida used data from USC political scientist Jeffrey M. Sellers, to flesh out his theory.  Political affiliation isn’t really up for grabs in dense cities, where residents tend to lean Democratic, nor in affluent suburbs, which usually vote Republican.  Instead, Florida argues, the question mark hovers over what he calls America’s “distress ‘burbs”—suburban areas hit hardest by the recession.

According to Sellers’s data, voters in the “distress ‘burbs” are most likely to swap Democratic for Republican party affiliation, or vice versa.  More specifically, they are prone to buck the regional trend:  less-well-off suburbs in red states tend to go for the Democratic candidate, while those in blue states vote Republican.

“But while voting patterns in the distress ‘burbs shift back and forth, ongoing urbanization and increased density appear to favor the Democrats,” Florida writes.  Regardless, the battle for the suburbs remains fierce, and they have come to define America’s new electoral map.”

Friday, November 29, 2013 in The Atlantic Cities

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight