[3][4] Johnson's victory was part of a nationwide landslide in which he captured many traditionally Republican states, and Wyoming was no exception.

Goldwater, a believer in free markets and low taxes, famously opposed both of these programs, and suggested making social security voluntary, which cost him a great deal of support among moderates – including Republicans – who viewed him as too conservative.

He did receive some support from Nixon and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower; however, the former wanted to see much of Goldwater's agenda struck down, while Eisenhower's support was limited to a single commercial, as he never fully forgave the Arizona Senator for calling many of his biggest accomplishments as president such as the Interstate Highway System "a dime store New Deal.

[6] Despite his stunning defeat, Goldwater's campaign began a long term political realignment in American politics, with conservatives beginning to sway towards the Republican Party, ultimately culminating in the 1980 presidential victory of Ronald Reagan, who had supported Goldwater in 1964, famously giving a speech on his behalf titled "A Time For Choosing", which raised over $1 million for the Republican nominee's campaign,[7] and launching Reagan into the national political spotlight.

Additionally, many Northeastern liberals who had previously favored the Republicans began to move towards the Democrats, which would ultimately flip the Northeast blue in 1992.