Racial and Social Diversity and U.S. Presidential Election Regions

Abstract

This article examines political regionalism in presidential elections from 1892 to 2000 by analyzing the percentage of the popular vote received by Democratic candidates for president using statistical methods and spatial analysis. The results indicate three long-term and stable political regions in presidential elections and a history of spatially dependent voting. The article then proposes four fluid political regions based on social diversity and recent political behavior and integrates the role of the Electoral College. This provides a framework in which political geography can integrate political regionalism, racial and social diversity, and the electoral vote in studying presidential elections.

Key Words:

• political geography
• presidential elections
• United States

Notes

Sources:Congressional Quarterly Books (1997), Mills (2001).

Sources:Congressional Quarterly Books (1997), Mills (2001).

Sources:Mills (2001), U.S. Census Bureau (2001).

^aFinal cluster centers.

Source: Mills (2001); U.S. Census Bureau (2001).

¹A T-mode factor analysis conducted from 1892 to 2000 using the Democratic vote confirmed the continuation of Shelley and colleagues' (1996) Second Reconstructive Factor.

²Sources for election data included Congressional Quarterly Books (1997) and Leip (2002).