The religious freaks have always been a problem. I assume focus on the family types blew their bastardized conch shells and drew these types in.

Agreed about the zealots. Regardless ... I grew up in Colorado in the 1960s. Colorado was pretty much cow country and oil country in those days and Conservative. It only turned more Liberal in the 1970s-1980s.

that's every state I've ever lived (6 so far)

True. Even California used to vote fairly Conservative.