<sod>'''Red states''' and '''blue states''' refer to those [[U.S. state|states]] of the [[United States]] whose residents predominantly vote for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] (red) or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] (blue) presidential candidates.<eod>
<sod>'''Red states''' and '''blue states''' refer to those [[U.S. state|states]] of the [[United States]] whose residents predominantly vote for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] (red) or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] (blue) presidential candidates.  Since 2000, use of the term has been expanded to differentiate between states being perceived as [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] and those perceived as [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]]. <eod>