How Liberal is Your Burger?

2 minute read

No matter how avowedly nonpartisan they claim to be, every major retailer has a political identity ingrained in the locations of its stores. Six in 10 Johnny Rockets can be found in Democratic congressional districts, while eight in 10 Sonics are in districts that will send a Republican to Washington in 2015. (Fifty-eight percent of Congressional districts will be held by Republicans come January.) TIME recently explored these dynamics in an interactive chart that is reprinted at the bottom of this post.

To further plumb the mysteries of burger politics, here are a few lists of the chains that are most often found in only Democratic or only Republican districts.

We also ran the numbers for clothing, grocery stores and auto dealerships. Fancy an Arby’s sandwich? Odds are you’ll be driving there in your Buick.

The Most Liberal Burgers in America

Franchise Dem. Rep. Total locations Johnny Rockets 61% 39% 195 White Castle 58% 42% 409 Jack in the Box 53% 47% 2106 Checkers Drive-In Restaurants 53% 47% 494 In-N-Out Burger 52% 48% 264

The Most Conservative Burgers in America

Franchise Rep. Dem. Total locations Jack’s Family Restaurants 95% 5% 127 Hardee’s 83% 17% 1741 Sonic 82% 18% 3435 HWY 55 78% 22% 112 Arby’s 76% 24% 3188

The Most Liberal Car Dealerships in America

Franchise Dem. Rep. Total locations Tesla Motors 66% 34% 101 MINI 56% 44% 113 Land Rover 49% 51% 156 Audi 49% 51% 273 Acura 49% 51% 263

The Most Conservative Car Dealerships in America

Franchise Rep. Dem. Total locations Lincoln 77% 23% 786 Pontiac 77% 23% 2021 Buick 76% 24% 2025 Chevrolet 74% 26% 2973 Ford Motor Company 74% 26% 3015

The Most Liberal Clothing in America

Franchise Dem. Rep. Total locations American Apparel 84% 16% 134 Simply Fashion 77% 23% 228 Rainbow Shops 72% 28% 980 H & M 62% 38% 298 7 For All Mankind 62% 38% 732

The Most Conservative Clothing in America

Franchise Rep. Dem. Total locations Factory Connection 95% 5% 282 Cato Fashions 83% 17% 1052 maurices 83% 17% 887 Vanity 81% 19% 148 Buckle 78% 22% 452

The Most Liberal Grocery Stores in America

Franchise Dem. Rep. Total locations Stop & Shop 83% 17% 395 Whole Foods Market 67% 33% 293 Trader Joe’s 65% 35% 418 Safeway 64% 36% 865 A&P 63% 37% 300

The Most Conservative Grocery Stores in America

Franchise Rep. Dem. Total locations Weis Markets 83% 17% 321 Kroger 78% 22% 1297 IGA 77% 23% 1081 Food Lion 76% 24% 1113 Winn-Dixie 73% 27% 628

 

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Write to Chris Wilson at chris.wilson@time.com