poli 204 southern politics midterm

markwayne mullin

Current Republican US Senator from Oklahoma

Seeking reelection to the Senate in 2026

One of the only Native Americans in Congress

MMA fighter and father of 6

ty pinkins

Democrat —> Independent running for the US Senate from Mississippi in 2026

Previously ran as a Democrat for statewide office twice and lost

Worked in cotton fields, military veteran, first to graduate high school in his family

raphael warnock

Current Democratic US Senator from Georgia

First Black US Senator in the history of GA

Cannot seek reelection until 2028

Pastor

jennifer mcclellan

Current Democratic US Representative from Virginia

First Black woman elected to Congress from VA

Represents the future of southern politics as a woman of color

george wallace

Former longest-serving Democratic governor of Alabama

Controversial, opposed desegregation and supported Jim Crow laws

Challenged sitting president LBJ in the primary but lost

His lack of success is part of the fracturing of the Democratic Solid South

huey long

Former Democratic governor and US Senator from Louisiana

Nicknamed Kingfish

Planned to challenge FDR but was assassinated

Share Our Wealth message was popular in the South

bill clinton

Former Democratic governor of Arkansas

Served two terms as President

Monica Lewinsky scandal

Played saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show

Won some southern states as President

mike huckabee

Most well known GOP govenor of Arkansas

Known for his conservative, evangelical views on social issues

Father of current Arkansas governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders

sarah huckabee sanders

Current Republican governor of Arkansas

First woman to serve as governor of Arkansas

Won over 60% of the vote

jimmy carter

Former Democratic President and served as governor of Georgia prior to that

Won the 1976 election but lost 1980 reelection bid

He swept the South in 1976

LBJ

Former Democratic congressman and US Senator in Texas

Won the 1964 presidential election in a landslide

Made inroads with African American voters in the South

george w. bush

Former Republican President serving 2 terms

Served as governor of Texas prior to becoming President

The South was critical for his wins

al gore

Democratic VP under Bill Clinton

US Senator from TN before becoming VP

His loss in 2000 election highlighted the importance of Southern votes

derek dooley

Running as a Republican from Georgia in the 2026 US Senate race

Former UT football coach

Has never held elected office but football in the South works in his favor

tommy tuberville

Current Republican US Senator from Alabama

Running for governor in 2026

Former Auburn footbal coach, works in his favor 

ashley moody

Current Republican US Senator from Florida

Former Attorney General 

katie britt

Current Republican US Senator from Alabama

Talked about football in her ad

Breaking gender barrier in Alabama politics as first female US Senator from AL

black influence district

A type of minority influence district

White Democrats do well, this is where the population is 20-40% Black

Big enough of a minority population that officials need to pay attention to their needs, but they don’t hold a majority

what are the percentages of the black influence districts and who they will elect

less than 20% black - white republican

20-40% black - white democrat

more than 50% black - black democrat

majority minority district

The majority of residents are non-White, which translates into the election of Black elected officials

The VRA led to the creation of these districts

Help communities of color elect candidates who represent their interests

Affects the number of White Democrats to reach elected office

growth state characteristics

Stronger economies

Greater racial diversity than the Black-White division

More in migration

Generally more tolerant and less traditional

More success for Democrats

Likely to see White Democrats in elected office

stagnant state characteristics 

Larger native born population

Lower levels of educational attainment

Not much population growth 

Lack of competitive elections, Republicans dominate

Fewer Democrats in Congress, but likely to be racial minorities

upstate sc

northern part of SC where Clemson is

socially conservative —> Republican stronghold

many transplants 

lowcountry sc

Charleston

economically conservative

republicans do well

lots of elderly transplants

midlands sc

largest part of the state geographically

Democratic Party is most viable here, dependent on Black support

Many counties are small and poor (Fairfield County)

nancy mace

Current Republican US Representative from South Carolina

First female to gradute from The Citadel

Running for governor in 2026

oklahoma city

Major population increase

Democrats do well

nashville

Democrats do well

top 20 fastest growing parts of the country

split into 3 congressional districts 

kay ivey

Current Republican governor of Alabama

One of the few female governors in the South

t.w. shannon

Former Republican Speaker of the House in Oklahoma

Biracial

Lost in GOP Senate primary both times

Shows that not all Black Republicans are successful

tim scott

Current Republican US Senator from South Carolina

First Black Senator from the South since Reconstruction 

ted cruz

Current US Senator from Texas

Leading conservative voice in Southern politics

Latino

marsha blackburn

Republican Senator from TN

Running for governor in 2026

cindy hyde smith

Current Republican US Senator from Mississippi

Seeking reelection in 2026

Blocked one of the Democratic candidates from becoming a federal judge

josh stein

Current Democratic governor of NC

Only Democratic governor in the South

Former NC Attorney General

Represents successful Democratic leadership

does a trump endorsement matter in gop primary elections

Yes, his endorsement can boost a candidates fundraising and media attention in close elections 

do areas with larger black populations and where universities are located tend to support democratic candidates

Yes. Black voters are a major voting bloc for Democrats. College towns tend to lean more liberal/progressive

is north carolina a state where democrats often win the governorship, but republicans often win federal office

Yes. Democrats often win governorship, current governor is a Democrat. Both Senators are with the GOP. split ticket voting

is alabama a rare state in that the current governor and one of the us senators is a woman

Yes kay ivey and katie britt are both female republicans

list the growth states

florida, georgia, north carolina, south carolina, texas, virginia

list the stagnant states

alabama, arkansas, louisiana, mississippi, oklahoma, tennessee

what is one stagnant state that has the potential to be a growth state

tennessee. the population is growing espeically in nashville

three differences btwn growth and stagnant states

growth states have stronger economies compared to stagnant. there is more racial diversity in growth states. growth states have more competitive elections.

why are educational attainment and wealth important for understanding southern politics 

Education often correlates with more liberal/progressive views on social issues, espeically in urban/college educated populations
Wealth can align with conservative economic values
The South has a deep history of systemic inequality, especially affecting African Americans where education/wealth were deliberately restricted
The urban-rural divide helps explain the polarization in Southern voting pattern

why are politics in the south distinct from politics in other parts of the us

Most significant factor is slavery. The Democratic Party's push for civil rights legislation in the 1960s alienated many White Southern Democrats. The Republican Party developed the Southern Strategy to capitalize on racial tensions by appealing to White Southerners'. The South also has a high concentration of Evangelical voters who tend to support the GOP

The Black Belt is where Democrats earn a lot of votes. This is where the soil is rich and where there are higher concentrations of African Americans

why is virginia considered the most growth of the growth states

Wealthiest
Most educated
Lowest percentage of people WITHOUT health care coverage
Two White Democrats serving in the Senate

which state is at the center of a voting rights case that will be heard by the US Supreme Court that may further attenuate the VRA

Louisiana. This case will test whether Louisiana's congressional map, which created a second majority Black district to comply with the VRA, is an unconstitutional gerrymander

what are voter id laws

Requires you to show some form of ID before you are allowed to vote

These laws differ in strictness from state to state

Strict laws require more effort by voters

what is the significance of felony disenfranchisement laws

Can prevent millions of Americans from voting
Analyses of past elections suggests that if disenfranchised populations had been able to vote, it could have altered the outcomes of close races such as the 2000 presidential election in FL
By removing a large portion of the population, these laws dilute the political influence of affected communities, which are often poor and minorities

why are closing dates important

The larger the number, the more difficult it is for people to register in time to vote

why are latinos key to the future of southern politics, although the impact of the group varies by state

Latino population is large in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia

Latino voters sometimes act as swing voters in competitive elections

Recent elections have shown shifts in Latino voter support. Trump made inroads with conservative Latino voters

what is the role of majority minority districts that play a role in the election of racial minorities to office? how do they not bode well for the election of white democrats to office

They play a crucial and complex role in the election of racial minorities to office
This occurs when a racial minority group comprises a majority of the population
The number of Black elected officials in the South has grown in the last 50 years due to race-based redistricting

does variation exist when it comes to states electing republican governors in the 20th century

Yes. TN saw the earliest Republican governor get elected in 1910 and Mississippi saw the latest in 1991.
The 1960s-80s marked a major transitional period, with most states breaking from Democratic dominance

two implications of term limits in state legislatures

They have the ability to increase the number of minority legislators, as well as the number of females
Can create more competitive elections by eliminating the advance of incumbency

how does in migration influence southern politics

Growth states tend to see more in-migration, which can help bring new values to the table
Latinos in FL are coming from outside Cuba, such as Puerto Rico, and some Latinos in TX are conservative, which can help explain the electoral politics there

why is the content of ads by candidates seeking statewide office be seen as strategic

Candidates try to act in a counter-stereotypical way. Cyndi Munson wearing a flannel shirt and driving a truck as a Democrat
Ads target voters specific interests and demographics
Can paint a picture of the candidates past and road to elected office
Can be catchy. Call a Crackhead. Frat Boy Joe
Focus on issues that create a consistent and recognizable image for the candidate

which state do many view as the most stagnant of all the stagnant states and why is this the case

Mississippi
Very rural. Lower levels of educational attainment. Poorer than most southern states. Not as much racial diversity. Issues with supplying people with clean water