The Changing Political South How Minorities and Women are Transforming the Region

The phenomenal growth of minority populations in the U.S. South is quickly transforming the region's politics. Most political observers see the Democratic Party rising in the region, with increasingly Democratic-leaning women voters joining emergent populations of Asian and Latino voters and African American voters. Some argue that demography is destiny, and yet the analyses presented in The Changing Political South demonstrate little such certainty about the future competitiveness of the two major parties in the South.

Authors Charles S. Bullock, III, Susan A. MacManus, Jeremy D. Mayer, and Mark J. Rozell substantiate the idea of strong and persistent Democratic leanings among Black voters and a majority of women. However, they find that the rising minority populations' votes are increasingly "up for grabs" by the two major parties. How the two parties fare in the future of Southern politics will be driven largely by their abilities to reach these new voters.

Charles S. Bullock, III, is the Distinguished University Professor of Public and International Affairs, holds the Richard B. Russell Professorship of Political Science and is Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Georgia.

Jeremy Mayer is an Associate Professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Susan A. MacManus is a University of South Florida Distinguished University Professor Emerita.

Mark J. Rozell is the Founding Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University where he holds the Ruth D. and John T. Hazel Faculty Chair in Public Policy.