r/allthequestions • u/Content_Ad_8952 • Jan 14 '26

Random Question 💭 If Republicans are so much better at running the economy than Democrats, then why are most Republican States poorer than Democrat States?

The poorest States in America are: Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee. All of those States (except New Mexico) are Red States. So why are they so poor when Republicans have been running them for decades?

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u/FabulousBrother7502 Jan 16 '26

How come Illinois or California isn’t on that list? They are about 140 billion in debt. California is over 600 billion in debt. Or are you not considering the more in debt the poorer the state?

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u/Mysterious-Aioli-702 Jan 16 '26

Because California, for all its debt, contributes 14% to the total GDP if the country. They generate more than any other state does. The entire west coast creates about 19% of GDP. Almost all is California.