The Hill, meanwhile, came up a with a formula that declared Washington the nation’s bluest state. We could be more comfortable about that title if its researchers had been a bit more diligent in their research. . . 

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States were graded based on how their voters have gone in the presidential elections, the partisan makeup of their congressional delegation, their last three governors and the makeup of their Legislature.

The D.C. newspaper correctly noted that Washington has gone Democrat in the last seven presidential elections, has two Democratic senators, six of 10 Democrats in the House and its last three governors were Ds (actually it’s the last five, over eight elections, but we’re not counting). “Democrats also control the Legislature,” the Hill said.

That would come as a huge surprise to members of the Senate, which has been run by a mostly Republican coalition for the last two years.

It might also be fair to point out that the eastern half of the state has gone for Republican presidents during those elections, has GOP House members and usually supports unsuccessful GOP candidates for U.S. Senate and governor, as well as sending mostly Republicans to the Legislature.

When the blues west of the Cascades are merged with the reds to the east, Washington might better be described as the purplest of states.

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