In retrospect, which were realigning elections?

[kwabbit]

I agree about 2000 being a realigning election. The South's long term trends might've been Republican, but it still voted for Clinton twice and Carter in 76. 2000 was the first close election where the South voted Republican and it was decisive. There were some huge trends all across the region from 96 to 2000. It also cemented the Northeast and West as left-leaning. It was the beginning of polarization across regional lines that would create a system of mostly safe states.