Opinion | What a Democratic South Would Mean for American Politics
E.J. Dionne Jr.'s New York Times opinion column argues that the 2026 elections made far more Southern territory competitive than ever, with Democrats set to hold at least seven of the Old Confederacy's 22 Senate seats, powered by Black turnout, Latino shifts, younger voters, and an economic-populist, culturally moderate coalition. Dionne urges Democrats to invest heavily in the South, predicts the party's Southern coalition could push national politics toward populism-plus-moderation, and warns that a single election does not guarantee realignment.
