Elections that changed a state's political trajectory?

[Tekken_Guy]

What elections changed a state's political trajectory after they happened?

[WalterWhite]

West Virginia was becoming a solidly Democratic state by the 1996 Election, but the 2000 Election set it on a rightward course.

Nevada was becoming a solidly Republican state by the 1988 Election, for it had not voted Democratic since 1964 at that point; but the 1992 Election turned it into a swing state.

Virginia was becoming a solidly Republican state by the 2004 Election, but the 2008 Election set it on a leftward course.

The elephant in the room, however, is 1964. Before that election, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana were all solidly Democratic; after the 1964 Election, however, these states were sent on a very sudden rightward trajectory, and by 2000, all of these states were solidly Republican.

[GregTheGreat657]

2020 could be this kind of election in GA and AZ, turning them from red into purple, maybe blue states later on

[TwinGeeks99]

Florida's 2018 elections. Aside from the early warning sign that it narrowly stayed red despite a blue wave year, (even against a three term incumbent in the Senate race) the impact of DeSantis' governorship has led to a massive influx of conservative retirees to the state, pushing it even further into the red column.

[EastwoodS]

Florida's 2018 elections. Aside from the early warning sign that it narrowly stayed red despite a blue wave year, (even against a three term incumbent in the Senate race) the impact of DeSantis' governorship has led to a massive influx of conservative retirees to the state, pushing it even further into the red column.

Gosh, I'd say you could foresee Florida's general state trajectory going back to the late 1990s and early 2000's. Even in 2008 and 2012, the margins were anemic for Democrats compared to the national picture of those years.

[DS0816]

What elections changed a state's political trajectory after they happened?

…Over the last 50-plus years:

• 1968
• 1976
• 1980
• 1992
• 2000
• 2008
• 2016
• 2020

These have been the last 50-plus years of United States presidential elections in which there were party switches. Eight such occurrences. And in every one them…there was at least one state which realigned.

They are not the only such states. But, all or nearly all of them are good examples.


Link:

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=441838.msg8079566#msg8079566

[Person Man]

Florida's 2018 elections. Aside from the early warning sign that it narrowly stayed red despite a blue wave year, (even against a three term incumbent in the Senate race) the impact of DeSantis' governorship has led to a massive influx of conservative retirees to the state, pushing it even further into the red column.

Gosh, I'd say you could foresee Florida's general state trajectory going back to the late 1990s and early 2000's. Even in 2008 and 2012, the margins were anemic for Democrats compared to the national picture of those years.

In 1988, Florida was HWs best state and Florida even stayed R in 1992. 1996 and 2000 now seem like an aberration.

[EastwoodS]

Florida's 2018 elections. Aside from the early warning sign that it narrowly stayed red despite a blue wave year, (even against a three term incumbent in the Senate race) the impact of DeSantis' governorship has led to a massive influx of conservative retirees to the state, pushing it even further into the red column.

Gosh, I'd say you could foresee Florida's general state trajectory going back to the late 1990s and early 2000's. Even in 2008 and 2012, the margins were anemic for Democrats compared to the national picture of those years.

In 1988, Florida was HWs best state and Florida even stayed R in 1992. 1996 and 2000 now seem like an aberration.

I’m talking about state elections, such as 1998 gubernatorial and the state house and senate shifting right too. I kinda get a feeling that many Democrats saw Florida differently after 1996 and assumed that the left wing trends out of south eastern Florida would have turned it into another Dem leaning state between 1994-2002.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

2018 Arizona

[Young Conservative]

2012 is underdiscussed as, arguably, the most consequential election of the 21s century in America. It  changed a lot of states' voting history. The American political map would look a lot different if Mitt Romney had become president. Romney losing was the "final straw" for many Republican voters that led to Trump...

[EastwoodS]

2012 is underdiscussed as, arguably, the most consequential election of the 21s century in America. It  changed a lot of states' voting history. The American political map would look a lot different if Mitt Romney had become president. Romney losing was the "final straw" for many Republican voters that led to Trump...

Republicans have a very hard time being patient and waiting for their parties turn to take over the White House; had they just waited for 2016 and gone with a Kasich or Rubio, the map probably would have looked quite red. Instead, Republican's (2009-now) are impatient and impulsive, overreact and become more reactionary to each election loss they witness.

[pbrower2a]

1952, Utah. 2006, Virginia.

[Devils30]

2014- Iowa. Braley was well funded and you could see the state trending away from Dems even before Trump.
2006 in VA gave Dems more hope for 2008.

[MT Treasurer]

Single elections are not the cause but rather the sign of a state's changing political trajectory, but Delaware 2000, New Hampshire 2004, Oregon 2004, Virginia 2005, Arkansas 2008, Iowa 2014, Arizona 2018 come to mind here.

[Sumner 1868]

1940. The Plains from North Dakota to Kansas went from being a swing region to safe Republican with the sole exception of the 1964 landslide.

[Ragnaroni]

1960 (and the Kennedy Senate race of 1952) seems to have put Massachusetts from a Liberal Republican bastion to a solidly Democratic state.

Off the top of my head : 1964 in the South (all Goldwater states) -> the beginning of the fall of the "Solid South".

Don't know which election applies but either 1972-1980-1984 for Texas being a solidly GOP state from 1988 onwards.

Arguably 2016 applies for some of the Rust Belt states, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania weren't viewed as states the GOP could win prior to 2016.

[Pres Mike]

West Virginia was becoming a solidly Democratic state by the 1996 Election, but the 2000 Election set it on a rightward course.

Nevada was becoming a solidly Republican state by the 1988 Election, for it had not voted Democratic since 1964 at that point; but the 1992 Election turned it into a swing state.

Virginia was becoming a solidly Republican state by the 2004 Election, but the 2008 Election set it on a leftward course.

The elephant in the room, however, is 1964. Before that election, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana were all solidly Democratic; after the 1964 Election, however, these states were sent on a very sudden rightward trajectory, and by 2000, all of these states were solidly Republican.

I'm sorry, but a lot of these are just false

West Virginia was a Democratic state for years, but the signs of conservatism was showing even in 1996. By 2000, it was clear no Democrat could win the state because Democrats were too green.

Virginia showed signs of being a swing state in 2004. The massive increase of the federal government from the war on terror meant more white collar workers. The 2008 Obama campaign saw this.

The 1948 and 1960 elections showed the south was moving away from the national Democratic Party