Red Fighting Blue: How Geography and Electoral Rules Polarize American Politics

by David A. Hopkins

The national electoral map has split into warring regional bastions of Republican red and Democratic blue, producing a deep and enduring partisan divide in American politics. In Red Fighting Blue, David A. Hopkins places the current partisan and electoral era in historical context, explains how the increased salience of social issues since the 1980s has redefined the parties' geographic bases of support, and reveals the critical role that American political institutions play in intermediating between the behavior of citizens and the outcome of public policy-making. The widening geographic gap in voters' partisan preferences, as magnified further by winner-take-all electoral rules, has rendered most of the nation safe territory for either Democratic or Republican candidates in both presidential and congressional elections - with significant consequences for party competition, candidate strategy, and the operation of government.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 25, 2017

Reviews

[Steve]

Interesting theory as to how political polarization and national government are intertwined.

[Julie Bergley]

This was an interesting look at electoral politics and how, despite there being a variety of people everywhere, the electoral college makes partisan politics the theme of the day. I found it to be a bit dry in places, though I couldn't help but think about what the author's take on the most recent to national elections and their outcomes would be.

[Patrick F]

One of the best books I've ever read regarding electoral politics.