Is Carver County the most Republican county in Minnesota?

It has, after all, voted in the majority for the Republican presidential candidate since 1936.

The last time county residents sent a Democrat to the Minnesota Legislature was 1990. Before 1990, you'd have to travel back to 1980 for the last time a majority of Carver County voters opted for a Democratic legislator. (See related story: “County Bleeds Republican Red.")

The Republican trend is especially interesting, considering that Chanhassen resident Elmer Kelm was a founding father of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Not every town is strictly GOP. Chanhassen and Victoria have proved to be very Republican over the past several decades, but Carver and Chaska have proven to be "swing" towns. (See attached chart for a comprehensive look at Carver County voting history.)

Here are some interesting statistics related to Carver County voting patterns:

* In Minnesota’s 37 presidential elections since it became a state in 1858, Carver County has voted in the majority for:

27 Republican candidates

9 Democratic Candidates

1 Progressive candidate.

* Carver County has voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1936.

* Throughout it’s election history, the majority of Carver County voters have voted with the majority of Minnesota voters 13 times, and against, 24 times.

Chaska

* Since 1880, with data from 1892 election missing, Chaska has voted in the majority for:

22 Republican candidates

9 Democratic candidates

* Chaska has voted for the winning national candidate since 1964.

Carver

* Since 1880, with data from 1892 election missing, Carver has voted in the majority for:

15 Republican candidates

15 Democratic candidates

1 tie (a 134/134 vote split in the 1960 race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. 

Chanhassen

* Since it was incorporated as a city in 1896, Chanhassen has voted in the majority for:

15 Republican candidates

11 Democratic candidates

2 Third-party candidates

* Chanhassen has voted for Republican candidates since 1976.

Victoria

Since Victoria was incorporated as a city in 1915, it has voted in the majority for:

18 Republican candidates

4 Democratic candidates

1 Third-party candidate

* Victoria has voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1968.