Over the last several decades, the composition of the democratic and republican parties has changed in important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the south, but other demographic changes have also been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than in congressional elections.
Since 1950, as the percent of southern state seats in the House held by Democrats have decreased, so has the percent of southern state electoral votes for Democratic presidential candidates. Originally at 98% in 1950, the seats have decreased to less than 40% in 2005.
Southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing democratic candidates to congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency because of incumbency advantage and gerrymandering. Incumbency advantage allowed the seats in the house already help by democrats to stay democratic because incumbents usually win reelection. Gerrymander, and employing cracking and packing strategies, is one reason why southern voters were electing candidates to congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for presidency. This is because focusing more on the representation of the states by redistricting, there was less focus on national representation.
In the beginning stages of labor unions, the focus was mainly over workers rights and hours limitations. The composition of the group has changed dramatically, with new pushes to increase state wages and receive better benefits. This has changed the ways political parties attempt to get support by promising for these benefits. The composition of women groups has also changed since their beginnings. They have now become most closely aligned with the Democratic party. In return, the Democratic party has began focusing more on women's issues and rights, such as equal pay.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q3.pdf
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