The parties did not used to be as polarized. Many southern white Democrats moved to the Republican party. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Democrats#1933

The parties did not used to be as polarized. Many southern white Democrats moved to the Republican party. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Democrats#1933%E2%80%931980 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Democrats#1933%E2%80%... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixiecrat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond is very notable example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond