Question

Between the civil war and the 1960s, the ________ was a democratic stronghold.

Answer 1

I believe the answer is: Midwest
For those who involved in politics, it is a well-known fact that 3 Midwest Regions are considered as 'the big three Democratic Stronghold', which almost always guarantee a favorable result for them.
The states that included in these strongholds are California, New York, and Illinois.