Resources
These sources are listed by topic.
Realignment theory:
Ansolabehere, S., & Snyder, J. M. (2004). Reapportionment and Party Realignment in the American States. Retrieved from
http://economics.mit.edu/files/1216
A research journal examining the underrepresented urban and suburban voters in regions of the U.S. The author suggests that these groups have been overshadowed by rural voters in state legislature.
Campbell, D. (2002). The Young and the Realigning: A Test of the Socialization Theory of Realignment. Public Opinion
Quarterly, 66(2), 209-234.
A journal article examining the upcoming and young voters and their party identification based on Christian ties. The article suggests that the stronger the tie to religion, the more likely the young are to identify with the Republican party.
Fenton, J. H. (1982). ‘Cycle Theory’ and Political Realignment in the United States. Political Studies, 30(3), 426–431. Doi:
10.1111/j.1467-9248.1982.tb00549.x
A journal article that discusses the cycle theory, a theory that political realignment is cyclical and happens every 28-36 years. However, there is very little evidence to this theory and the article further discusses causes for realignment and why it may appear cyclical. Causes include major events, decline in party identification, and ticket-splitting.
History, Art, & Archives, United States House of Representatives. (2008). Party Realignment. Retrieved
from https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/BAIC/Historical-Essays/Temporary-Farewell/Party-Realignment/
An essay on the influence of African American voters in the realignment from the Republican party to the Democrat party in the 20th century. It discusses the impact of the civil rights movement and the Republican parties failing to keep African American voters on their side.
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Hughes, Hip. [Hip Hughes]. (2012, April 17). Political Realignment for Dummies [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNpPj6MT1p0
A teacher of AP American History, Hip Hughes, discusses in a video realignment and its role in American politics.
Packer, George. (2019). Is America Undergoing a Political Realignment? Retrieved from
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/04/will-2020-bring-realignment-left/586624/
A news article examining the past two realignments, the first being the realignment to the Democratic party with President Roosevelt. The second being the Republican realignment with Ronald Reagan. It then takes those examples to predict whether or not the country in modern day is experiencing a realignment to the Democratic side after President Trump’s presidency.
Rashid, Aatif. (2019). The 2020 Election: On the Possibility of Political Realignment. Retrieved
from https://medium.com/@aatifrashid/the-2020-election-on-the-possibility-of-political-realignment-9b88b16c2bba
An article that looks ahead to the 2020 election possibilities while referring back to how and why realignments happened in the past. It looks at Obama and Trump's elections as possible beginnings to realignments, but adds that knowing when change is happening is difficult and in retrospect a realignment may not be happening.
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Schofield, N., Miller, G., & Martin, A. (2003). Critical Elections and Political Realignments in the USA: 1860–2000.
Retrieved from https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2014/08/polstudies03.pdf
A journal article that covers major political realignments since the Civil War and how voters are affected by major events and third party candidates to mobilize them to vote for either Democratic or Republican parties. It suggests that a party must create coalitions to win an election. It includes a model of electoral dynamics that explains the complexities of campaign moves and voter decisions.
United States Senate. (n.d.) A Momentous Political Realignment. Retrieved
from https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Momentous_Political_Realignment.htm
A short history essay describing the movement from the Republican party to the election of Democrat Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 following the Great Depression.
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Kentucky Politics:
Acquisto, A., & Patton, J. (2019, November 5). Voter turnout tops 42 percent in tight race for Kentucky governor. Retrieved
from https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article236988299.html
A Kentucky news article from the Herald Leader that says Kentucky’s 2019 general election turnout was 42 percent instead of the predicted 31 percent prediction. It then goes through high county turnouts and how the voting process faired in general to elect Andy Beshear as mayor.
Barton, R. (2018, June 20). Democrats No Longer Majority Of Registered Voters In Kentucky. Retrieved from
https://wfpl.org/democrats-no-longer-majority-of-registered-voters-in-kentucky/
Radio station 89.3 WFPL article announces that Republican voters registered now make up 41 percent of Kentuckians while Democrats make up 49.9 percent as of 2018. It also discusses reasons as to why Kentuckians are transitioning from its historically Democrat choices to Republican, including the increase of liberal ideas in the Democrat party that do not resonate with rural Kentuckians.
Brammer, J., & Blackford, L. (2016, November 9). Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic
control. Retrieved from https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html
News article from the Herald Leader that announces the Republican party has reached a trifecta in Kentucky after the election in 2016. This was the first time Kentucky has had a Republican trifecta, notoriously known to house Democrats. The only Democrats left in the state government were Attorney General Steve Beshear and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Pages/Turnout.aspx
Data from 1982 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky website that documents general and primary voter turnout up to 2019.
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Gabriel, Trip, & Martin, Jonathan, & Burns Alexander. (2019). The G.O.P.'s Election Day Problem in the Suburbs is Getting
Worse. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/us/politics/kentucky-governor-virginia-election.html
Article from The New York Times discussing the Republican loss in general elections in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. This loss is partly due to suburban voters leaning toward the Democratic party when they were previously Republican voters.
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Gregory, John. (11/07/16). Kentucky's Political Realignment and the 2016 Election. Retrieved from
https://www.ket.org/public-affairs/kentucky-political-realignment-and-the-2016-election/
Article from KET which discusses the 2016 presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton as well as the Senate race in Kentucky. It predicts that Trump will win over Kentuckians with his message, while Clinton could have had a shot if she had not said that her plans would lessen jobs for coal miners.
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Hinckley, S. (2019, July 9). Why these Kentucky Democrats still love President Trump. Retrieved from
Article from The Christian Science Monitor that explains why Kentucky Democrats have voted and supported President Trump. It says that Kentuckians have had economic and job issues that have not been supported by the Democratic party, which has been more focused on social issues. It then discusses Trump’s success with Kentucky votes because of his conservative views.
Judis, J. B. (2007). Blue Grass. New Republic, 237(10), 18-19.
An article that challenges the Republican idea that Kentucky is realigning to Republican majority. It claims that Democratic victory in the governor election suggests a Democratic wave is coming in 2007 and that Kentucky’s southern ties are less strong with urbanization of cities like Louisville and Lexington.
Kentucky Presidential Election Voting History. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.270towin.com/states/Kentucky
A data oriented website that shows voting statistics for all American parties since 1792 as well as interactive maps to show party majority throughout those years.
Miller, P.M., & Jewell, M.E. (1990). Political Parties and Primaries in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
This source is the first chapter from a book titled Political Parties and Primaries in Kentucky. The chapter describes the national effects of voting on Kentucky in the past two decades from 1990. The sections are Primary Election Campaigns and Two-Party Competition.
Pearce, J. E. (2015). Divide and Dissent Kentucky Politics, 1930-1963. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.
A history and analyses of Kentucky governors and state positions and their division along with the history of Kentucky divisions in general.
Straub, B. (2012, October 10). Kentucky's Puzzling Politics. Retrieved from
http://www.kentuckymonthly.com/culture/kentucky's-puzzling-politics/
An article from Kentucky Monthly analyzing Kentucky’s somewhat confusing politics. While Kentucky is traditionally a Democratic state and has held Democratic state positions for years, it is now looking toward Republican ideologies, despite still retaining Democrat registration majority.
Wells, P. (2017). In Trump they trust. Retrieved from https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2016/10/17/in-trump-they-trust
An article that involves the author traveling to Kentucky counties, specifically Elliot County, and interviewing their thoughts on why Kentucky has voted for President Trump since their county has historically voted Democrat. It has personal interviews as well as statistics on the numbers of Democratic and Republican voters.
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Other Sources:
Black, M. (2004). The Transformation of the Southern Democratic Party. Journal of Politics, 66(4), 1001-1017.
A journal article discussing the change of Southern politics from the original Democratic ideologies focused on white, male voters, to the Republican party while the Democratic party becomes the home to more liberal citizens.
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Cizmar, A., Layman, G., McTague, J., Pearson-Merkowitz, S., & Spivey, M. (2014). Authoritarianism and American Political
Behavior from 1952 to 2008. Political Research Quarterly, 67(1), 71-83. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/23612036
A journal article that uses election data to show growing polarization and authoritarianism that influences political favor in Americans. Since issues such as race, culture, immigration, and national security have become more developed in politicians, this also supports polarization in politics.
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Judis, J. B. (2002). Majority Rules. (cover story). Retrieved from https://newrepublic.com/article/63955/majority-rules
Article from the New Republic that discusses the emerging Democratic realignment in 2002 despite belief that Bush’s campaign will lead to reelection. It claims that Bush does not reach America’s increasingly diverse demographic including professionals, college students, and women.
Knuckey, J. (2006). Explaining Recent Changes in the Partisan Identifications of Southern Whites. Political Research
Quarterly, 59(1), 57-70. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/4148075
A journal article that analyzes the change in political preference of Southern white people. Known as Democrats for a historically long time, they are now transitioning to Republican identifications due to racial attitudes, class issues, and general ideological realignment.
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The Roanoke Times. (2019). Editorial: Lessons from Kentucky. Retrieved
An article discussing the election of Andy Beshear and how his election reflects a small realignment of suburban Republicans to Democrats. It also analyzes what this could mean for Trump's hold in Kentucky, although it suggests that Bevin was more likely a uniquely unpopular candidate rather than Beshear being the popular candidate.
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Voting and Registration. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/topics/public-sector/voting.html
Information from the United States Census Bureau regarding voting and registration amongst the populous. Information contains data and graphics throughout the year as well as specifics including race, gender, and income.
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Vox. [Vox]. (2016, July 20). How the Republican Party went from Lincoln to Trump [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VOM8ET1WU
A Youtube video by Vox that covers the history of the Republican party since its formation during the Civil War era and its ties to the Union up to its change to conservative values and business focus.
Vox. [Vox]. (2016, November 7). From white supremacy to Barack Obama: The history of the Democratic Party [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6R0NvVr164
A Youtube video by Vox that covers the history of the Democrat party since its formation before the Civil War and its support of slavery and disunion up to its change to liberal values and civil rights focus.