Toward a One-Party South?
Danny Hayes1*
and
Seth C. McKee2
1 Syracuse University
2 University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dwhayes{at}maxwell.syr.edu.
 |
Abstract |
|---|
Most observers now consider the American South a two-party region, with Democrats and Republicans competing vigorously for political office. In this article, we raise the possibility that the South has begun a transformation into a one-party region dominated by the GOP. Three factors tip the scales in the partys favor: the ideological congruence between the Republican Party and the regions electorate, the Republican trend among the regions younger voters, and the incumbency advantage accrued by current Republican officeholders. Using a vast array of longitudinal data from the South, we provide evidence that speaks to the daunting challenges facing the Democratic Party in the South. We also address the results in the Souths 2006 midterm elections. The findings suggest that as the United States most reliably Republican region continues to change, Democrats may have an exceedingly difficult time winning statewide races.