<P> The Great Plains states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas have been strongholds for the Republicans for many decades . These four states have gone for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1940, except for Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide over Barry Goldwater in 1964 . Although North Dakota and South Dakota have often elected Democrats to Congress, after the 2012 election both states' congressional delegations are majority Republican . Nebraska has elected Democrats to the Senate and as Governor in recent years, but the state's House delegation has been all - Republican since 1995, and both of its Senators are Republican . Kansas has elected a majority of Democrats as governor since 1956, but has not elected a Democratic Senator since 1932 . Both of Kansas's U.S. Senators and all four of its U.S. House members are Republican . </P> <P> Missouri was historically considered a "bellwether state", having voted for the winner in every presidential election since 1904, with three exceptions: in 1956 for Democrat Adlai Stevenson II; in 2008 for Republican John McCain; and in 2012 for Republican Mitt Romney . Missouri's House delegation has generally been evenly divided, with the Democrats holding sway in the large cities at the opposite ends of the state, Kansas City and St. Louis (although the Kansas City suburbs are now trending Republican), and the Republicans controlling the rest of the state, save for a pocket of Democratic strength in Columbia, home to the University of Missouri . However, as a result of the 2012 elections, Republicans now have a 6--2 majority in the state's House delegation, with African - American Democrats representing the major cities . Missouri's Senate seats were mostly controlled by Democrats until the latter part of the 20th century, but the Republicans have held one or both Senate seats continuously since 1976 . </P> <P> All Midwestern states use primary election to select delegates for both the Democratic and Republican national conventions, except for Iowa and Minnesota . The Iowa caucuses in early January of leap years are the first votes in the presidential nominating process for both major parties, and attract enormous media attention . </P>

Large area of flat land in the midwest