ABSTRACT
Racial issues have contributed to the change in the relationship between social class and voting behavior among whites during the 21st century. Racial issues have been important in American politics for a very long time, and they continue to be important, as the two parties differ on these issues. Class differences on racial issues have become greater in the 21st century, with working-class whites becoming more conservative on race-related issues, relative to middle-class whites. Also, racial issues, which already had a strong effect on the vote, became even more influential in the 21st century. Immigration issues became more important in the 21st century as well, and class differences on these issues increased, with working-class whites being more opposed to immigration. The combination of these two factors contributed to the changing relationship between social class and voting behavior.
