Although Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower carried half the South in 1952 United States presidential election and 1956 United States presidential election and Senator Barry Goldwater also carried five Southern states in 1964 United States presidential election , Democrat Jimmy Carter carried all of the South except Virginia and there was no long-term realignment until Ronald Reagan ' s sweeping victories in the South in 1980 United States presidential election and 1984 United States presidential election .