Together with black enfranchisement, immigration has transformed American political parties. These new voters have disproportionately supported the Democratic Party. The nonwhite share of the Democratic vote rose from 7 percent in the 1950s to 44 percent in 2012. Republican voters, by contrast, were still nearly 90 percent white into the 2000s. So as the Democrats have increasingly become a party of ethnic minorities, the Republican Party has remained almost entirely a party of whites.
The transformation of American political parties has largely been shaped by two significant factors: the enfranchisement of black voters and immigration. These developments have shifted voter demographics, with a notable increase in nonwhite support for the Democratic Party. In the 1950s, nonwhite voters accounted for a mere 7 percent of the Democratic electorate, but this figure surged to 44 percent by 2012, highlighting a substantial change in party affiliation among racial minorities.
Conversely, the Republican Party has maintained a predominantly white voter base, with almost 90 percent of its supporters being white well into the 2000s. This stark contrast illustrates a division in party alignment based on race, where the Democrats have embraced a more diverse coalition, while the Republicans have remained largely homogenous. This shift not only reshapes electoral strategies but also reflects the broader social dynamics impacting American politics.
