Kansas

Some 84.3% of Scott County residents who cast a ballot in the 2012 presidential elections voted for Romney, the largest share of any county in Kansas. Relatively fewer county residents lived in poverty than across the nation from 2009 through 2013. Additionally, as in many of the reddest counties in each state, more than 95% of the county’s 4,930 residents identified solely as white. Also, some 23.4% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree, below the state educational attainment rate of 30.3%.

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Kentucky

Leslie County is the most Republican county in Kentucky with Romney winning 89.7% of its 2012 vote. About 22.6% of county residents lived in poverty from 2009 through 2013, much higher than the national poverty rate of 15.4% over the same period. Additionally, nearly all of the 11,220 residents identified had as white. Leslie County residents also had low college-attainment rates. Only 7.3% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree from 2009 through 2013, nearly a quarter of the comparable national rate of 28.8%. Libertarian favorite and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul will add his name to the growing list of Republican candidates vying for the presidential nomination in next year’s primary election.

Louisiana

Romney won 81.7% of the 2012 votes cast in Grant Parish. About 17.3% of parish residents lived in poverty from 2009 through 2013, higher than the national poverty rate of 15.4% over the same period. The county was also predominantly white, with 80.1% of its 22,113 residents identifying solely as white. Grant Parish residents were also relatively poorly educated. Only 10.2% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree, about half the statewide rate, which was itself much lower than the comparable national rate of 28.8%. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced he is running for president this June.

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Maine

Lincoln is the most Republican county in Maine. While the majority of the county’s votes went for Democratic candidate Obama, Romney’s 43% share was the highest compared to other counties in Maine. With Democrat supporters generally more educated, it’s not surprising the generally Democratic county was also relatively better educated. In the five years through 2013, 33.1% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree, higher than the comparable national figure of 28.8%. Lincoln County is represented in Congress by Democrat Chellie Pingree, who was first elected in 2008. The senators from Maine are Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King. King is one of two independents in the Senate, joining Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Maryland

Some 65.7% of Carroll County residents who cast ballots in 2012 voted for Romney, the largest share of any county in Maryland. Relatively fewer people in the county lived in poverty from 2009 through 2013 than across the nation. The county was overwhelmingly white, with 92.8% of its 167,261 residents identifying solely as white. Unlike most predominantly Republican counties, but like their statewide peers, county residents were relatively well educated. About 32.7% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree over the five years ending 2013 compared with 28.8% of all adults nationwide. Despite its status as the reddest county in Maryland, Carroll County residents have consistently elected and re-elected Democrats to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In addition to former Governor Martin O’Malley, who recently announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, another Maryland native may be on the ballot. Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, will campaign for the Republican ticket.