The relationship between income and political partisanship varies across U.S. regions—a phenomenon previously attributed mostly to economic factors or race-specific dynamics.

Existing Explanations:️ Previous theories have pointed to either economic salience in poorer areas or the influence of racialized issues elsewhere.

New Findings:️ Our analysis of 73 million geocoded voter records shows that racial context is primary, with economic factors playing only a minor role. In predominantly nonblack localities, income strongly predicts voting behavior; however, in heavily black areas across the Old South and other regions historically marked by racialized poverty, income-based voting patterns align more closely with partisan alignment.

Why It Matters:️ This underscores that regional disparities in how income shapes politics are rooted in historical inequalities. Redistricting efforts must consider these deep-seated connections to ensure fair geographic representation.