Arizona joined the Union in February 1912 as the 48th state and final piece of the continental United States. The state has traditionally gone Republican in presidential elections. Except for Bill Clinton’s win in 1996, Arizona has voted Republican since 1952. Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by about nine points in 2012, roughly the same margin-of-victory as that of home state Senator John McCain in 2008. The 2016 election was much more competitive; Donald Trump prevailed by 3.5%.

The Grand Canyon State’s population has grown rapidly in the past half century, and its number of electoral votes has almost tripled from four in 1960. Population trends this decade have the Grand Canyon State on track to earn another one after the 2020 presidential election. If that happens, it will be the 7th consecutive Census where Arizona has gained at least one electoral vote.