The only one who did change parties was former dixiecrat Strom Thurmond. BUT He publicly denounced the dixiecrat platform and became a champion of civil rights unlike al gore sr, richard russel, william fulbright, robert byrd, etc, etc.
Strom Thurmond was the first southern politician to have african americans on his staff, while democrats remained lily white.
Exactly. Thurmond knew the deal. He would have to give up his support for segregation if he wanted to be accepted in the Republican party.