The Demographics of the American Contemporary Voter: The Possibility for the Re-Election of President Barack Obama and Realignment Politics
Year: 2011
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper is an outgrowth of a paper initially presented at the 2009 Oxford Roundtable and Alabama State University’s College of Arts and Sciences Research Symposium. The paper considers the changing demographics (i.e. the dominance of women in the labor force; the growth of minorities in the American population; the use of technology in campaigns and fundraising; early voting incentives and significant shifts in America’s traditional electoral map) in the American electorate. Such changes were identified as important in the election of America’s first African American President, Barak Obama. In addition to discussing the aforementioned factors that were crucial to the President’s 2008 victory, an analysis of the 2010 midterm elections will be forthcoming. Other political and electoral events will also be considered as the 2012 presidential election counts down. A previous effort with this paper led to a review of Alabama state politics. As a result of the 2010 midterm election all three branches of Alabama state government are controlled by the Republican Party. Although such an occurrence does not directly affect the 2010 presidential election, it too is noteworthy. However, the same results are noteworthy in North Carolina which was significant to Obama’s 2008 victory which represented significant shifts in America’s traditional electoral map. Prior to 2008 when the Democratic National Party won the presidency and significant numbers in Congress, the Republicans dominated the presidency in the 20th. century and in 1994 had won majorities in Congress and state and local governments. The Democrat’s 2008 victories and the dominance of the national Republican Party caused many to wonder if these events signaled periods of political Realignment. Realignment is a process in which a substantial group of voters switch party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape. Therefore, comments about Realignment may be forthcoming as this paper reconsiders the demographics that shaped the 2008 presidential election and assesses developing and potential considerations in American politics.
Source: SSRN Electronic Journal
Author: Byrdie Annette Larkin
Institution: Alabama State University
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2245554475