Of regional interest, shale drilling during the last couple of decades has had some rather powerful political ramifications, according to new research. The Daily Yonder reports that the U.S. shale boom has led to a shift in votes to Republican candidates in counties where the drilling has taken place.
Areas with large-scale shale oil development saw voters turn out in large majorities for Republican candidates. Those candidates, in turn, voted extremely conservatively on all manner of issues, including social issues. By 2012, over 80 percent of the House seats in shale areas were held by Republicans. That number is up from less than 50 percent in 1996. The economists said they found “strong evidence that shale booms reduce support for liberal causes and increase support for conservative ones.” Now that oil prices have plummeted, it remains to be seen if these counties will remain so deeply conservative.
