Why was FL so Republican from 1952 to 2008?

[Sir Mohamed]

I always wondered why FL voted so heavily Republican during the entire period from 1952 to 2008? During the same period of time, Democrats controlled the congressional delegation and the governor's office for the most part, but in presidential elections, the Republican candidates were much more successful. In the said span of time, Democratic nominees carried the state only three times (1964, 1976 and 1996). Even Johnson in 1964 could only win 51% of the vote, although he got 61% nationwide. Bill Clinton failed to win the state in 1992, despite winning other southern states. The GOP candidates often not just won, but won by larger margin than nationally. Even W got a stunning 52% in 2004, more than Obama four years later (and more than Johnson 1964 and Carter 1976). Bush 41 won 60% in 1988, overperforming the national vote by seven percent. Nixon secured 71% in 1972 and Reagan 65% in 1984.

Any ideas? I guess it has something to do with demographics and FL may just trended sooner to Republican than other southern states (like VA).

[Sir Mohamed]

Good explanations.

The Panhandle was probably just very similar to the Deep South. Not just in voting patterns, but also culturally. The process of the Deep South trending Democratic to Republican was almost like other southern states and went on from the late 1940s to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Like in GA and AL for example, these areas started voting Republican (or non-Democratic) by the 1950s and 1960s, but maintained voting Democratic at the state level for a few more decades.

Southern FL may have become more Democratic because of the growing latino community, as already pointed out. Though Cuban Americans, a large part of FL's latinos, are more conservative. Urbanization may also play a role here.