ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at changes in the demographic composition of voters participating in Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in the American South from 1988 to 2016. It details state-level changes in the composition of southern Democratic primary electorates. The chapter examines state-level alterations of southern Republican primary electorates. For both Democratic and Republican primary electorates, the data cover the 1988, 2008, and 2016 presidential elections. The analysis turns to an accounting of region-wide changes between 1988 and 2008. The data are presented for all primary voters and then according to party primary, in order to show overall changes and how they have played out within each major party primary. The chapter provides a brief summary statement of the significance of the substantial changes to southern presidential primary electorates. The contemporary southern Republican Party is distinguished by its overwhelmingly white constituency.
