Electoral Maps: Results Indicate Deepening Racial Divide Among Voters

In 2008, minority voters turned out in record numbers, propelling Barack Obama to the White House. Similar results fueled his second-term victory on Tuesday. A 2-percentage-point increase in nonwhite votes — to 28 percent — sealed Obama's reelection, and data seem to indicate minority influence at the polls has grown stronger in the past four years.

Obama managed to win again, despite securing only 39 percent of white voters--who still represent the nation's largest voting bloc at 72 percent. 

Poll after poll indicated the issue atop all voters mind this election season was the still-weak economy, a color-blind issue affecting nearly everyone.

However, analysis of voter data shows that the racial divide that dominated much of the race in 2008 is getting wider. Obama failed to capture the majority of the white vote in many of the nation's states--even the ones that traditionally bleed blue--and endured a 4-point drop among white votes over 2008.

Based on racial exit-poll data available from select states, Obama would have definitively lost 12 states to Republican nominee Mitt Romney if only white voters mattered. Add another three possible toss-up states and that's a full 242 possible electoral votes that Obama would not have.

Using the links below, toggle between the reality of the 2012 vote and a projected electoral map that uses white-only voter preferences. You can also clearly see what Obama gained and lost using white-only votes from 2008 to 2012. Hint: It's a lot.

Alabama
Obama (38%); Romney (61%)
(9 electoral votes) Alaska
Obama (42%); Romney (55%)
(3 electoral votes) Arizona
Obama (43%); Romney (55%)
(11 electoral votes) Arkansas
Obama (37%); Romney (60%)
(6 electoral votes) California
Obama (59%); Romney (38%)
(55 electoral votes) California
Obama (59%); Romney (38%)
(55 electoral votes) Colorado
Obama (51%); Romney (38%)
(9 electoral votes) Connecticut
Obama (58%); Romney (41%)
(7 electoral votes) Delaware
Obama (59%); Romney (40%)
(3 electoral votes) District of Columbia
Obama (91%); Romney (7%)
(3 electoral votes) Florida
Obama (50%); Romney (49%)
(29 electoral votes)
Still processing results Georgia
Obama (45%); Romney (53%)
(16 electoral votes) Hawaii
Obama (71%); Romney (28%)
(4 electoral votes) Idaho
Obama (32%); Romney (65%)
(4 electoral votes) Idaho
Obama (32%); Romney (65%)
(4 electoral votes) Illinois
Obama (57%); Romney (41%)
(20 electoral votes) Indiana
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(11 electoral votes) Iowa
Obama (52%); Romney (46%)
(6 electoral votes) Kansas
Obama (38%); Romney (60%)
(6 electoral votes) Kentucky
Obama (38%); Romney (61%)
(8 electoral votes) Louisiana
Obama (40%); Romney (59%)
(8 electoral votes) Maine
Obama (56%); Romney (40%)
(4 electoral votes) Maryland
Obama (61%); Romney (37%)
(10 electoral votes) Massachusetts
Obama (61%); Romney (37%)
(11 electoral votes) Michigan
Obama (54%); Romney (46%)
(16 electoral votes) Michigan
Obama (54%); Romney (46%)
(16 electoral votes) Minnesota
Obama (53%); Romney (45%)
(10 electoral votes) Mississippi
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(6 electoral votes) Missouri
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(10 electoral votes) Montana
Obama (42%); Romney (55%)
(3 electoral votes) Nebraska
Obama (41%); Romney (58%)
(5 electoral votes) Nevada
Obama (52%); Romney (46%)
(6 electoral votes) New Hampshire
Obama (52%); Romney (47%)
(4 electoral votes) New Jersey
Obama (58%); Romney (41%)
(14 electoral votes) New Mexico
Obama (53%); Romney (43%)
(5 electoral votes) New York
Obama (63%); Romney (36%)
(29 electoral votes) North Carolina
Obama (48%); Romney (51%)
(15 electoral votes) North Dakota
Obama (39%); Romney (59%)
(3 electoral votes) Ohio
Obama (50%); Romney (48%)
(18 electoral votes) Oklahoma
Obama (33%); Romney (67%)
(7 electoral votes) Oregon
Obama (53%); Romney (44%)
(7 electoral votes) Pennsylvania
Obama (52%); Romney (47%)
(20 electoral votes) Rhode Island
Obama (63%); Romney (35%)
(4 electoral votes) South Carolina
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(9 electoral votes) South Dakota
Obama (40%); Romney (58%)
(3 electoral votes) Tennessee
Obama (39%); Romney (59%)
(11 electoral votes) Texas
Obama (41%); Romney (57%)
(38 electoral votes) Texas
Obama (41%); Romney (57%)
(38 electoral votes) Utah
Obama (25%); Romney (73%)
(7 electoral votes) Vermont
Obama (67%); Romney (31%)
(3 electoral votes) Virginia
Obama (51%); Romney (48%)
(13 electoral votes) Washington
Obama (55%); Romney (43%)
(12 electoral votes) West Virginia
Obama (36%); Romney (62%)
(5 electoral votes) Wisconsin
Obama (53%); Romney (46%)
(10 electoral votes) Wyoming
Obama (28%); Romney (69%)
(3 electoral votes) Alabama
Obama (15%); Romney (84%)
(Romney keeps) Alaska
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Arizona
Obama (32%); Romney (66%)
(Romney keeps) Arkansas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) California
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) California
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) Colorado
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) Connecticut
Obama (49%); Romney (49%)
(Tossup state) Delaware
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) District of ColumbiaNo exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) Florida
Obama (37%); Romney (81%)
(Still processing, Obama in lead statewide) Georgia
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Hawaii
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) Idaho
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Idaho
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Illinois
Obama (46%); Romney (52%)
(Obama loses) Indiana
Obama (38%); Romney (60%)
(Romney keeps) Iowa
Obama (51%); Romney (47%)
(Obama keeps) Kansas
Obama (35%); Romney (63%)
(Romney keeps) Kentucky
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Louisiana
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Maine
Obama (57%); Romney (40%)
(Obama keeps) Maryland
Obama (43%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Massachusetts
Obama (57%); Romney (42%)
(Obama keeps) Michigan
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Michigan
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Minnesota
Obama (48%); Romney (49%)
(Tossup state) Mississippi
Obama (11%); Romney (89%)
(Romney keeps) Missouri
Obama (31%); Romney (66%)
(Romney keeps) Montana
Obama (40%); Romney (56%)
(Romney keeps) Nebraska
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Nevada
Obama (41%); Romney (57%)
(Obama loses) New Hampshire
Obama (51%); Romney (47%)
(Obama keeps) New Jersey
Obama (43%); Romney (56%)
(Obama loses) New Mexico
Obama (40%); Romney (56%)
(Obama loses) New York
Obama (46%); Romney (50%)
(Tossup state -- Romney likely) North Carolina
Obama (31%); Romney (68%)
(Romney keeps) North Dakota
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Ohio
Obama (41%); Romney (58%)
(Obama loses) Oklahoma
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Oregon
Obama (52%); Romney (45%)
(Obama keeps) Pennsylvania
Obama (42%); Romney (57%)
(Obama loses) Rhode Island
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) South Carolina
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) South Dakota
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Tennessee
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Texas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Texas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Utah
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Vermont
Obama (66%); Romney (33%)
(Obama keeps) Virginia
Obama (38%); Romney (61%)
(Obama loses) Washington
Obama (53%); Romney (46%)
(Obama keeps) West Virginia
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Wisconsin
Obama (47%); Romney (51%)
(Obama loses) Wyoming
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney)s

View 2012 electoral map | View map using 2012 white-voter preference only

Alabama
Obama (10%); Romney (55%)
(Romney keeps) Alaska
Obama (33%); Romney (65%)
(Romney keeps) Arizona
Obama (40%); McCain (59%)
(McCain keeps) Arkansas
Obama (30%); McCain (68%)
(McCain keeps) California
Obama (52%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) California
Obama (52%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) Colorado
Obama (50%); McCain (48%)
(Tossup state--Obama likely) Connecticut
Obama (51%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) Delaware
Obama (51%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) District of Columbia
Obama (86%); McCain (12%)
(Obama keeps) Florida
Obama (42%); McCain (56%)
(Obama loses) Georgia
Obama (23%); McCain (76%)
(McCain keeps) Hawaii
Obama (70%); McCain (27%)
(Obama keeps) Idaho
Obama (33%); McCain (65%)
(McCain keeps) Idaho
Obama (33%); McCain (65%)
(McCain keeps) Illinois
Obama (51%); McCain (48%)
(Obama keeps) Indiana
Obama (45%); McCain (54%)
(Obama loses) Iowa
Obama (51%); McCain (48%)
(Obama keeps) Kansas
Obama (40%); McCain (59%)
(McCain keeps) Kentucky
Obama (36%); McCain (63%)
(McCain keeps) Louisiana
Obama (14%); McCain (84%)
(McCain keeps) Maine
Obama (58%); McCain (40%)
(Obama keeps) Maryland
Obama (47%); McCain (49%)
(Tossup state) Massachusetts
Obama (59%); McCain (39%)
(Obama keeps) Michigan
Obama (51%); McCain (47%)
(Obama keeps) Michigan
Obama (51%); McCain (47%)
(Obama keeps) Minnesota
Obama (53%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) Mississippi
Obama (11%); McCain (88%)
(McCain keeps) Missouri
Obama (42%); McCain (57%)
(McCain keeps) Montana
Obama (45%); McCain (52%)
(McCain keeps) Nebraska
Obama (39%); McCain (59%)
(McCain keeps) Nevada
Obama (45%); McCain (53%)
(Obama loses) New Hampshire
Obama (54%); McCain (44%)
(Obama keeps) New Jersey
Obama (49%); McCain (50%)
(Tossup state--McCain likely) New Mexico
Obama (42%); McCain (56%)
(Obama loses) New York
Obama (52%); McCain (46%)
(Obama keeps) North Carolina
Obama (35%); McCain (64%)
(Obama loses) North Dakota
Obama (42%); McCain (55%)
(McCain keeps) Ohio
Obama (46%); McCain (52%)
(Obama loses) Oklahoma
Obama (29%); McCain (71%)
(McCain keeps) Oregon
Obama (57%); McCain (40%)
(Obama keeps) Pennsylvania
Obama (48%); McCain (51%)
(Obama loses) Rhode Island
Obama (58%); McCain (39%)
(Obama keeps) South Carolina
Obama (26%); McCain (73%)
(McCain keeps) South Dakota
Obama (41%); McCain (56%)
(McCain keeps) Tennessee
Obama (34%); McCain (63%)
(McCain keeps) Texas
Obama (26%); McCain (73%)
(McCain keeps) Texas
Obama (26%); McCain (73%)
(McCain keeps) Utah
Obama (31%); McCain (66%)
(McCain keeps) Vermont
Obama (68%); McCain (31%)
(Obama keeps) Virginia
Obama (38%); McCain (60%)
(Obama loses) Washington
Obama (55%); McCain (42%)
(Obama keeps) West Virginia
Obama (41%); McCain (57%)
(McCain keeps) Wisconsin
Obama (54%); McCain (45%)
(Obama keeps) Wyoming
Obama (32%); McCain (66%)
(Obama keeps) Alabama
Obama (15%); Romney (84%)
(Romney keeps) Alaska
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Arizona
Obama (32%); Romney (66%)
(Romney keeps) Arkansas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) California
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) California
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) Colorado
Obama (44%); Romney (54%)
(Obama loses) Connecticut
Obama (49%); Romney (49%)
(Tossup state) Delaware
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) District of ColumbiaNo exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) Florida
Obama (37%); Romney (81%)
(Still processing, Obama in lead statewide) Georgia
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Hawaii
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) Idaho
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Idaho
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Illinois
Obama (46%); Romney (52%)
(Obama loses) Indiana
Obama (38%); Romney (60%)
(Romney keeps) Iowa
Obama (51%); Romney (47%)
(Obama keeps) Kansas
Obama (35%); Romney (63%)
(Romney keeps) Kentucky
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Louisiana
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Maine
Obama (57%); Romney (40%)
(Obama keeps) Maryland
Obama (43%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Massachusetts
Obama (57%); Romney (42%)
(Obama keeps) Michigan
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Michigan
Obama (44%); Romney (55%)
(Obama loses) Minnesota
Obama (48%); Romney (49%)
(Tossup state) Mississippi
Obama (11%); Romney (89%)
(Romney keeps) Missouri
Obama (31%); Romney (66%)
(Romney keeps) Montana
Obama (40%); Romney (56%)
(Romney keeps) Nebraska
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Nevada
Obama (41%); Romney (57%)
(Obama loses) New Hampshire
Obama (51%); Romney (47%)
(Obama keeps) New Jersey
Obama (43%); Romney (56%)
(Obama loses) New Mexico
Obama (40%); Romney (56%)
(Obama loses) New York
Obama (46%); Romney (50%)
(Tossup state -- Romney likely) North Carolina
Obama (31%); Romney (68%)
(Romney keeps) North Dakota
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Ohio
Obama (41%); Romney (58%)
(Obama loses) Oklahoma
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Oregon
Obama (52%); Romney (45%)
(Obama keeps) Pennsylvania
Obama (42%); Romney (57%)
(Obama loses) Rhode Island
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Obama) South Carolina
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) South Dakota
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Tennessee
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Texas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Texas
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Utah
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Vermont
Obama (66%); Romney (33%)
(Obama keeps) Virginia
Obama (38%); Romney (61%)
(Obama loses) Washington
Obama (53%); Romney (46%)
(Obama keeps) West Virginia
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney) Wisconsin
Obama (47%); Romney (51%)
(Obama loses) Wyoming
No exit polling available
(Statewide voted Romney)s

View 2008 white-voter preference only | View 2012 white-voter preference only

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