North Carolina Responds to Reaganomics and the New Federalism

Abstract

Over the past decade, political realities in North Carolina have undergone a considerable shift. For the past half of this century, the Democratic party has won most elections on all planes. As a result, the real political fights were often in that party's spring primary. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Republican party began to gain respectability at the ballot boxes, first in presidential elections, then in congressional elections, and finally in statewide races. The general election began to assume greater importance in the state's political calendar as Republicans became more competitive in seeking elective office. The 1970s and early 1980s have seen the fulfillment of this rising Republican strength. The Republican candidate has captured the state's electoral votes in three of the last four presidential elections, losing only in 1976. Furthermore, Republicans have captured four of the state's eleven congressional seats and now hold both U.S. Senate seats. They even captured the governorship in 1972 for the first time in the twentieth century. As this interparty competition has grown over the past decade, two political personalities have become dominant figures in their