AHC: better GOP downballot results 1972/84

With 1/1 PODs for both election years, how well can the GOP do downballot if Nixon and Reagan make a party rather than personal appeal?
 
It's hard because the Democrats hadn't been crippled on that level yet. The ideological realignment that allowed for conservatives infiltrating school boards only began in the 80s really.
 
In 1984 in particular you also have the use of minority (mostly AA) voters by Democrats in the South.

They controlled pretty much all redistricting and carefully dispersed AA voters in as many districts as possible to give themselves a base.

This meant a Democrat needed only 35-40% of the white vote in most districts and was thus protected.

When civil rights groups sued and forced majority minority districts in the 90's this helped contribute to the GOP transition.
 
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