It's a racial thing that rides right along with a POLITICAL line in the sand, and also depends on one's age.
If you are a White SOUTHERN BORN BABY-BOOMER living in the south, by a large margin you were either born to a family of Conservative Democrats or a Republican.
Many Conservative Democrats switched parties during the Richard Nixon election in the late 60's and joined the ranks of Republicans, because of the unpopularity for the Vietnam War. As the Democrats being led by LBJ as president at the time was deemed to be a WARHAWK, and Nixon promising to ending the Vietnam war as a campaign promise.
Through generations of Gerrymandering, It was enough to lock up the legislative branches and governorship of Southern STATES deadlocked in a stranglehold by the Republican party.
But, for the Southern BABY BOOMER Natives, IF YOU ARE WHITE, you are either born a Republican based on Race alone, or you are born into a Democratic Family that did not switch parties, but has been totally gerrymandered out of power for decades of the past, and for decades to come.
FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU ARE WHITE AND LIVING IN THE SOUTH, YOU CALL YOURSELF A REPUBLICAN, And it is hereditary.
The mentality of the Southern REPUBLICAN MAN is- "I'M WHITE- THEREFORE I AM A REPUBLICAN!
As I said- It is a RACIAL THING WITH PEOPLE WHO VOTE REPUBLICAN!