10 Most Liberal Cities in the South
- Baltimore, MD
- New Orleans, LA
- Richmond, VA
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Nashville, TN
- Houston, TX
- Charleston, SC
- Miami, FL
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore is the most liberal city in the South. It’s also the largest in Maryland, with a population of 583,132. Even though Maryland is right on the cusp, and many residents say it’s a northern state, it sits below the Mason-Dixon line, which separated the North from the South during the Civil War. So, it’s no surprise that Baltimore tends to be more progressive, and 87.3% of residents voted Democrat in the last election.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana, with a population of 383,997. It’s also the most liberal city in the deep South, and 83.1% of residents voted Democrat in the 2020 election. Despite being on the edges of the Bible Belt, New Orleans has a unique and diverse culture that is different from other parts of Louisiana, which is overall much more conservative. New Orleans is more of a melting pot that attracts students, artists, and creatives and, therefore, tends to be more liberal.
Richmond, VA
Richmond is also one of the most liberal cities in the South. It’s the capital of Virginia and also the fourth-largest city in the state, with a population of 226,610. Like Maryland, Virginia is between the North and the Deep South; therefore, the population tends to be divided between liberals and conservatives. Richmond, in particular, is very liberal, and 82.9% of residents voted Democrat in the previous election.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is another one of the most liberal cities in the South. It’s the capital and largest city in Georgia, with a population of 499,586. Atlanta is a major cultural and economic powerhouse for the South and a hub for digital media and entertainment. Despite being in a traditionally conservative state, Atlanta has a long history of progressive politics as a major center for the Civil Rights movement. It’s also home to a large LGBTQ+ population. As a result, it’s the 22nd most liberal city in the US, and 72.6% of residents voted Democrat in the last election.
Austin, TX
Austin, Texas, is also a very liberal city located in the South. It’s the fourth largest city in Texas, with a population of 961,855 residents. Although it is smaller than Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Austin is also much more liberal, and 71.4% of residents voted Democrat in the last election. UT Austin has a major city presence in the city, attracting college students who tend to be more liberal. It also attracts creative people drawn to its live music venues, stand-up comedy scene, and eclectic bars and restaurants.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is another one of the most liberal cities in the South. It is the largest city in North Carolina and also the 7th fastest-growing city in the United States, with a population of 874,579. Charlotte attracts residents from all over the country, seeking a robust economy, mild weather, and plenty of entertainment options. Although it’s more culturally moderate than many southern cities, 66.7% of residents voted Democrat in the last election.
Nashville, TN
Nashville is also a liberal city in the South. It’s the largest city in Tennessee, with a population of 689,447. The political climate tends to feature a mix of both conservatives and democrats. Nashville is a major hub for music and attracts plenty of artists and musicians. However, Tennessee is still a traditionally conservative state, and the surrounding suburbs tend to reflect those values. Still, 64.5% of residents voted Democrat in the last election.
Houston, TX
Houston is another large city in the South that is home to many liberals. With a population of 2.3 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States. Although it’s the most conservative of all the major US cities, Houston is relatively moderate, and 55.9% of residents voted Democrat in the last election. Most of the elected officials in the city are also Democrats, and the city has had a Democratic mayor for the past 20 years.
Charleston, SC
Charleston is also a southern city with a large population of liberals. It’s the largest city in South Carolina, with a population of about 150,227 residents. Like Houston, Charleston leans Republican compared to the rest of the country but has many liberal pockets for a southern city. The College of Charleston attracts a large population of students, and it also has a thriving community of artists with more liberal leanings. As a result, 55.5% of Charleston residents voted Democrat in the last election.
Miami, FL
Miami is also a southern city with a strong liberal influence. With a population of 442,241, Miami is the second largest city in Florida and also its cultural epicenter. Even though Florida is mostly conservative, Miami has more liberal political leanings due to its diversity and history of political activism. 53.3% of Miami residents voted Democrat in the last election, and the surrounding Miami Dade County is even more progressive than the city itself.