Sectional Voting Cleavages in Nebraska Presidential Elections, 1892-1992

This thesis examines the spatial and the temporal aspects of presidential sectionalism in Nebraska between 1892-1992. The Democratic percentages of the total vote for president are computed in each county in each election between 1892 and 1992. These data are then subjected to T-mode and S-mode factor analysis. The T-mode factor analysis is used to identify electoral epochs, which helps to explain the changing geographical pattern of support for presidential elections in Nebraska. The S-mode factor analysis is used to identify electoral regions, which helps locate sectional partisan support. The result of the T-mode factor analysis revealed four factors or normal vote sequences. Three normal vote sequences occurred prior to the Second World War, and the forth sequence occurred after the Second World War representing the modern or contemporary normal vote for Nebraska. The results of the S-mode factor analysis revealed three major and one minor factors or voting sections in Nebraska for presidential elections. The major factors identified included a western, southeastern, and northeastern voting sections, while the minor factor identified a small discontinuous urban and rural voting section