Probably the result of gerrymandering along a highway corridor.
Maybe it's the government bailout every time the river floods. People heavily dependent on the government always vote Democrat.
Check out the demographics of these counties. And the history.
They're river 'rats.
At least in the southern half of the Mississippi, a large portion of the population in the Delta near the river is black. Blacks vote overwhelmingly Democrat. Up in Iowa and Wisconsin, I don't know what the reason is -- farmers who are heavily subsidized by Washington?
I noticed the same thing on the map myself. I am also curious as to why this would be.
River 'RATS
Well Memphis and W.Memphis are there. St. Louis. E. St Louis.
Simple - lots of government check collectors. Between the Delta farmers and the "poor oppressed minority" population, lots of loyal DemocRATs.
Gambling river boats?
Just guessing?
Because cities were founded upon the river...now those urban areas are filled with Democrat voters...living and dead.
"What's in the river that attracts democrats?"
Sewage.
Maybe that's where the bodies are buried.
Check out the Rio Grande border in Texas.A blot on our map!
I figured it was the Mississippi Blues.
Northern Mississippi: Mind-numbed robot socialist-leaning Northern European white voter majority. The old Progressive Party scandinavian areas. Prairie Home Companion and Garrison Keiller (Did you ever read his ultra-socialist ravings?)
Carp. That's all you hear from Democrats, carp, carp, carp.
easy..... welfare!
Mercury poisoning.
I can't speak for the other states, but the Quad City area (Davenport), Burlington, and Ft Madison have sizable River related industry, which is Unionized.
That would be Davenport in the Center or the bulge at the North/South halfway point,, Burlington at slightly more than halfway South of Davenport and Ft. Madison on the Southern Point of the Mississippi shoreline.
I don't know if my description makes sense to someone who doesn't understand the lay of the land. If not, ask questions and I'll try again.