Realigning elections

[RI]

I would make the argument that 1932 was not a realigning election in and of itself. The realignment took place between the 1932 and 1936 elections. After analyzing the county maps between 1928 and 1932, the simple fact is this: Counties that were more strongly Democratic in 1928 were, by and large, more strongly Democratic in 1932 and vise versa. There was merely a vast shift in the baseline of the national popular vote during that time.

1928:

link: http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/rarohla/1928PresidentialElectionMap.png

1932:

link: http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/rarohla/1932PresidentialElectionMap.png

The 1936 election has a relatively similar margin (though wider) to 1932. However, a vast number of counties experienced radical shifts. A prime example of this is the "hollowing out" of the Great Plains. In 1932, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska were all 60%+ for Roosevelt while the surrounding states were almost unanimously only between 50% and 59%; however, four years later, it was the inverse. The Dakotas and Nebraska (plus Kansas-which saw a large increase in Republican counties in 1936) were the island of 50%s in a sea of 60%s.

Other shifts in allegiances were also notable. Northern Minnesota was the more Republican area of the state in 1932 while southern Minnesota was the Democratic stronghold. By 1936, this was flipped. Similarly, the base of the Democratic power in Wisconsin shifted from the eastern regions to the north of the state. Missouri, despite the national swing to the Dems, saw a massive increase in Republican counties in the western portions. Other notable changes can be seen throughout the West as in states such as Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, California, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. Subtles shifts also occured in Illinois, Ohio (partied largely changed sides of the state), and Michigan.

1936:

link: http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/rarohla/1936PresidentialElectionMap.png

Finally, the alignments from the 1936 election were, for the most part, long lasting. Compare the which parties are stronger where between the 1936 map and this 1960 map:


link: http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/rarohla/1960PresidentialElectionMap.png
(Obviously, the south was changing for other reasons by this point)