Alabama is a unique state of America with mixed ethnic population and history. For a long time, it was definitely Democrat in US presidential elections but in recent decades, it has changed its stripes from blue to red
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Alabama is a unique state of America for having joined the Union in 1819, participated in elections from 1820 and then skipping the 1864 election as it seceded from the US before joining back. A part of southern US, Alabama is named after the river of that name, and was one of the battlegrounds for Europeans who fought for dominance over America. Its capital is Montgomery that is named after General Richard Montgomery who was killed during the American Revolution.
Who are the voters?
Alabama has a mixed ethnic population that is dominated by a majority of White people, making up over 60 per cent of the state population of over 331 million. Whites (61 per cent) are followed by 26 per cent African American including Black alone 12 per cent and about six per cent Asian alone.
Foreign-born population form only a miniscule part of Alabama’s demography. The descendants of European settlers are the most dominant community, which took an urban turn from their traditional rural outlook through the 20th century. It is one of the relatively poorer states of America, with average income being consistently lower than the national average.
Is it Democrat or Republican?
Alabama has a mixed history. For a long time, it was definitely Democrat in US presidential elections. But in recent decades, it has changed its stripes from Blue to Red. The Democrat to secure Alabama votes was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Since then all Republican candidates have swayed the state in their favour.
It is unlikely that Alabama would spring a surprise on Donald Trump who secured all nine electors from the state in 2016, when he won the US presidential election and also in 2020, when he refused initially to acknowledge the November election results.
Is it a swing state?
Given its consistency for nearly five decades of voting in American elections, Alabama does not have the reputation of a swing state. It matters in an American presidential election more for providing comfort to Republican candidates, especially when the nominee is struggling or in a tight race — like Trump finding himself against Democrat Kamala Harris.
Has it given the US a president?
Alabama is one of the 29 states of America that has not given a single US president. Alabama, in fact, has not even thrown up a major challenger in a US presidential election till date.
If there is any memorable election for the state?
The election of 1964 saw Alabama turning away from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Having voted for John F Kennedy in 1960, Alabama turned against the party after Kennedy’s assassination, which saw his Vice-President Lyondoh B Johnson become the US president and enforce new civil rights law.
His Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal. Somehow, the sweeping civil rights legislation didn’t find favour with the Alabama voters, who have been voting against the party ever since, barring the exception of the Carter election of 1976.
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Publish date : 2024-10-18 01:30:00
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