The Decline of the Solid Democratic South Dan Feintuck, Theresa Lindstrand, Ben Yelin

Alabama

 GOP in national elections, in-state quagmire  Elections of 1962 and ’64  Renegade Dems: George Wallace takes back AL  Dems hold State Legislature  Dems: Blacks vs. Renegades  GOP: Moderates vs. Far right  Party Switching  Both parties lack centralized headquarters  High turnover rate within party leadership  GOP in national elections, in-state quagmire  Elections of 1962 and ’64  Renegade Dems: George Wallace takes back AL  Dems hold State Legislature  Dems: Blacks vs. Renegades  GOP: Moderates vs. Far right  Party Switching  Both parties lack centralized headquarters  High turnover rate within party leadership

South Carolina

 Historically solidly Dem, not anymore  Civil Rights alienate SC Dems; Strom begins crossover  Steady crossover; Congress is split  GOP first to organize, have more specific aims  bridge to national party, assistance to candidates, spreading of views  Moderate vs. Conservatives  Democrats simply try to beat GOP; organize later  Racial divide  Historically solidly Dem, not anymore  Civil Rights alienate SC Dems; Strom begins crossover  Steady crossover; Congress is split  GOP first to organize, have more specific aims  bridge to national party, assistance to candidates, spreading of views  Moderate vs. Conservatives  Democrats simply try to beat GOP; organize later  Racial divide

Mississippi

 Historically dominated by race and class  Solidly Democratic until post-war period  One party system flawed: The Democrats became divided into factions  Miss. Freedom Dems vs. Conservative Whites  State legislature has remained solidly democratic  Evolved into a GOP state in National Elections starting in 1964  Historically dominated by race and class  Solidly Democratic until post-war period  One party system flawed: The Democrats became divided into factions  Miss. Freedom Dems vs. Conservative Whites  State legislature has remained solidly democratic  Evolved into a GOP state in National Elections starting in 1964

Georgia

 History  Civil Rights Act, Barry Goldwater – Republican  Voting Rights Act  George Wallace – Independent  Party Organization – 1 st half of 20 th Century  Democrats - Not cohesive, Candidate-centered  GOP - ???  Party Organization – 2 nd half of 20 th Century  Loss of Presidency in 1960  Death of 1 st ever Republican candidate for governor in 1962  Growth of Republican party in 1980s  Democrats still lacking cohesiveness  Party Organization Today  Republicans - Top-down authority  Democrats - Authority divided between levels  Republicans - Lack of candidates for lower-level offices compared to Democrats  History  Civil Rights Act, Barry Goldwater – Republican  Voting Rights Act  George Wallace – Independent  Party Organization – 1 st half of 20 th Century  Democrats - Not cohesive, Candidate-centered  GOP - ???  Party Organization – 2 nd half of 20 th Century  Loss of Presidency in 1960  Death of 1 st ever Republican candidate for governor in 1962  Growth of Republican party in 1980s  Democrats still lacking cohesiveness  Party Organization Today  Republicans - Top-down authority  Democrats - Authority divided between levels  Republicans - Lack of candidates for lower-level offices compared to Democrats

Conclusion -All were solidly Democratic, now shifting GOP in national elections -Strong Democratic Presence within states -Major factions in state parties -In all but SC, gov’t is becoming far more liberal than the people -All were solidly Democratic, now shifting GOP in national elections -Strong Democratic Presence within states -Major factions in state parties -In all but SC, gov’t is becoming far more liberal than the people