The presidential race in Precinct 196, in Oklahoma City, had a familiar outcome on Nov. 8: the Republican man won. But it was a very narrow victory, and the precinct gave a more generous winning margin to the Democratic woman running for the state Legislature.

If the two parties were battling for the heart and soul of the precinct, they had to split them. Next time, however, if trends continue there, Democrats will claim both.

The dynamic area — where older neighborhoods of reliable Republican voters are being repopulated by young families who put Hillary Clinton signs in their yards — represents the changing politics of Oklahoma and other parts of America, with Democrats dominating the big cities and Republicans taking over the countryside.

On the recommendation of political experts who have watched the partisan realignment in Oklahoma over the past two decades, The Oklahoman chose the 196th Precinct, in the heart of the capital city, to follow early in this presidential election year.