Kentucky

Kentucky entered the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state after separating from Virginia's western frontier. While not one of the original 13 colonies, it was among the early states admitted to the Union.

During the Civil War, Kentucky was a border state that did not secede from the Union, though it was a slave state. The state’s position was complex, as it declared neutrality at the start of the war and was divided between Union and Confederate sympathisers.

Kentucky's political alignment shifted over time, leaning Democratic in the early to mid-20th century. It voted for Democratic candidates Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. From the 1950s onward, Kentucky turned increasingly Republican. In recent years, including the 2020 election, the state has leaned Republican, with Donald Trump winning the state.

Kentucky currently has eight electoral votes in the Electoral College, though this number can change with shifts in population and future redistricting.