ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews a relevant literature and reports evidence of trends in electoral polarization between elections. It presents hypotheses and analysis of party-based racial polarization and discusses results and their implications. An examination of party polarization and race reveals that blacks have overwhelmingly voted Democratic for at least two generations with no trends in actual voting behavior suggesting a shift. In addition to race, Adams writes that all culture war issues have the potential to polarize the parties. Geoffrey Layman concurs that cultural issues exhibit a tendency to divide along partisan lines and since 1980, the Republican Party has sought separation from the Democrats by emphasizing morality and family value-type issues. More partisan and ideological senators, along with a rational African-American electorate, may promote a political racial cycle. The implications are that electoral polarization is hardening partisanship for core Democrats and core Republicans.
