These two voter turnout trends explain what happened across the South in the election

Elections

These two voter turnout trends explain what happened across the South in the election November 13, 20265:00 AM ET

By 

Stephen Fowler

, 

Rahul Mukherjee

Sen.-elect Scott Colom (D-MS) speaks during a victory rally on November 11, 2026 in Tougaloo, Mississippi. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Democratic victories in the South this year were driven just as much by who showed up to vote as who stayed home, according to an NPR analysis of turnout data.