Birds of a Feather? Exploring the Politics of Residential Mobility

• In Event: US State Parties

Abstract

Do (political) birds of a feather flock together? In this study, we explore the degree to which self-reported partisan identification and political ideology influence (1) whether Americans move from one location to another, and (2) to where Americans move if they choose to do so. Specifically, do partisans and ideologues leave home counties incongruent with their own partisanship and ideology to seek out co-partisans and co-ideologues? This theory is based on the idea of “homophily”, or the desire of individuals to be around others like themselves. If supported, we should expect to find evidence of Democrats/liberals moving to blue counties and Republicans/conservatives moving to red counties. To test this theory, we use panel data collected from 8,000 Americans surveyed in 2011, 2012, and 2016 to consider the argument that partisans and ideologues are more likely to report living in different counties across survey waves. Further, we consider the degree to which partisans and ideologues shift their counties of residence from politically-incongruent counties to politically-congruent counties. In our preliminary analyses of 844 “movers,” we find that partisanship and ideology have only weak effects on whether or not individuals move, but we do find some evidence that partisan and ideological movers shift to counties that are more consistent with the political preferences.

Authors

• Tatum Colette Taylor, Louisiana State University

• James C. Garand, Louisiana State University