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Partisan Realignment

Partisan Realignment. POLS 125: Political Parties & Elections. 1860.

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Partisan Realignment

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  1. Partisan Realignment POLS 125: Political Parties & Elections

  2. 1860 “The election, so far as the City and State of New-York are concerned, will probably stand, hereafter as one of the most remarkable in the political contests of the country; marked, as it is, by far the heaviest popular vote ever cast in the City, and by the sweeping, and almost uniform Republican majorities in the country.” —The New York Times November 7, 1860

  3. “We had quite a line at the election. I never knew New York City to go against the Democrats before, but they got a good scare this time. I don’t believe we will be bothered with any more silver bills or boy orators for some time.” —Charles C. KingNew Brighton, New YorkNovember 29, 1896 1896

  4. “A Sharp Right Turn: Republicans and Democrats Alike See New Era in 80s Returns” —The Washington Post, November 6, 1980 1980

  5. 1994 “Tsunami is the Japanese word for ‘great wave caused by underwater seismic shock.’ What was the shock that caused the conservative wave of 1994? No inchoate choler at incumbents; not lust for change for change’s sake; not negative advertising used by both sides; not solely disappointment with the character or personality of Bill Clinton. The quake was caused by the majority’s belief that government is growing too big, intrusive, domineering and remote—and wasteful of tax dollars at all levels…” —William Safire, November 10, 1994

  6. The Vocabulary of Realignments • Critical election • Realigning era • Party system • Periodicity

  7. Critical election Realigning era Party system Realignment Theory

  8. Realignment Theory • American national elections can be sorted into two kinds: realigning and non-realigning • These elections fall into patterns (e.g., periodicity) • Oscillation in and out of the cycle takes roughly 30 years • Oscillation is caused by a strengthening and weakening of party identification • Voter turnout is unusually high in realigning elections

  9. Realignment Theory • Third parties tend to form • A new issue, or cluster of issues, replaces the old • There is an increase in ideological polarization • Realignments are associated with major changes in government policy • Realignments bring on long spans of unified government • Voters express themselves “effectively and consequentially” during electoral realignments, but not otherwise

  10. Mayhew calls this a “grand, even magnificent interpretative structure…” but is it true?

  11. Classic Realignments: 1860

  12. 1860 Anti-Slavery North Northern Democrats REPUBLICAN PARTY Southern Whigs Pro-Slavery South DEMOCRATIC PARTY New line of party cleavage Old line of party cleavage WHIG PARTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

  13. Classic Realignments: 1896

  14. Classic Realignments: 1932

  15. The Periodicity of Realignments • 1st generation: Their party identity is forged in crisis. They are likely to have a strong and emotional commitment to a political party that will last the remainder of their lives. • 2nd generation: Children of the realignment generation may follow their parents’ party affiliation, but with less intensity and determination. • 3rd generation: These are children of “normal” politics. Having grown up during a period of stability, their party allegiance is weak. • Notice how these “critical elections” occurred with regular frequency—every 30-40 years. Why? Because of generational change:

  16. Like Waiting for Godot… • 1968: War in Vietnam, Civil Rights movement, Johnson’s “Great Society” • 1980: Reduction in government spending and taxation, expansion of national defense • 1994: Partisan shift in the balance of power in Congress favoring the Republican Party • 2000-2008: A secular realignment into “Red” and “Blue” states????? • If generational change makes realignment possible, and if our last realignment was in 1932, why haven’t we experienced a critical election since then? Theory suggests that we are “ripe” for a realignment…

  17. The phrase “red state, blue state” was voted the Word of the Year in 2004 by the American Dialect Society.

  18. 2008 election results by state

  19. 2008 election results, by county

  20. 2008 election results cartogram, adjusted for population

  21. The 49 Percent Nation • BLUE STATES: Metropolitan, educated, black, Northeastern, Rust belt, West. • RED STATES: Rural and suburban, religious, South and Midwest. God-fearing and gun-loving. In 2001, Michael Barone wrote a now famous essay titled “The 49 Percent Nation.” In it he argues that there are now two Americas, almost evenly divided, split by geography, as well as social, religious and cultural differences.

  22. The Two Americas What divides us? GEOGRAPHY – As Barone points out, Democratic candidates do well in the Northeast, in “Rust Belt” states, and on the west coast, especially in densely populated urban areas where Clinton’s “personal peccadilloes raised few hackles.” Meanwhile, Republicans thrive in the rural and suburban South and Midwest. RELIGION - According to Barone “…the two Americas apparent in the 48 percent to 48 percent 2000 election are nations of different faiths. One is observant, tradition-minded, moralistic. The other is unobservant, liberation-minded, relativistic.”

  23. A Comparison of Red State and Blue State Voters, 2004

  24. Purple America Today, Barone says we are a 51 percent nation, given Bush’s 51-48 victory over John Kerry in 2004. But “Red” and “Blue” state designations can be misleading given the narrow margins by which some states are won. A better approach shows variations of degree. Should we use this map to criticize the Electoral College’s winner-take-all approach?

  25. Purple America In this 3D version of the “purple America” map, height represents voter density (e.g., voters per square mile). “It was almost as if two different Americas were voting…” —Michael Barone, 2001

  26. Purple America cartogram, 2004

  27. What’s Next? • External events • Shifting demographics • Ideological positioning • Candidate charisma How long can a near 50/50 split in the electorate last without a clear break in one direction or the other? Did we finally see that break in 2008?

  28. Is breaking the 50/50 split really what we want? Is it what is best for the country? As columnists David Broder and Dan Balz note “The partisan wars have severely limited Washington’s ability to accomplish big things.”

  29. Potential Realignment: 2008? …[T]he view that 2008 marks a historic realignment is favor of the Democrats is misleading—or at least premature. Obama’s victory offers no guarantee of a realignment. It is only an opportunity to bring one about.” —Paul Starr

  30. 2008 Election Results by State

  31. Here's how America has changed in 4 years:

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