The Politics of COVID-19: Differences Between Blue, Purple, and Red States in COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Regulations

Abstract Confining and controlling infectious diseases, currently COVID-19, is a challenging task for politicians around the world. Since not much has been known about the virus initially, political decisions had to be made under uncertainty. Thus, worldviews and beliefs of politicians heavily influenced political decisions. The current study investigated political decisions in 2020 and 2021 and their influence on COVID-19 deaths in the 50 states of the United States, with a particular focus on comparing red (Republican) and blue (Democrat) states. Results showed overall more regulations in blue states and fewer COVID-19 related deaths in blue states compared to red states.