Southern Strength

STATELINE INFOGRAPHIC Southern strength Republicans' growing clout at the state level Republican dominance in the South started with presidential elections and only later came to statehouses. Republican control* Number O Governors of states O State Houses carried by GOP O State Senates Presidential candidate 2011 Governors: 10 illli State House: 10 14 14 14 State Senate: 11 13 12 11 12 8 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 blue to red Party control of state offices, 1981 and 2011 ALABAMA FLORIDA GEORGIA OKLAHOMA 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 Governor State House Ştate Senate S. CAROLINA TENNESSEE TEXAS LOUISIANA 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 Governor State House State Senate KENTUCKY N. CAROLINA VIRGINIA MISSISSIPPI 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 1981 2011 Governor State House State Senate ARKANSAS W. VIRGINIA Democrats once controlled 1981 2011 1981 2011 all 14 Southern legislatures. Governor Now they run both houses in only two states. State House State Senate "Election results from odd years are included in the following even year. Sources: Almanac of American Politics, Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections and the National Governors Association Stateline infographic by Carla Uriona, Mary Mahling, Daniel C. Vock and Ben Wieder