Complex sentence: Following a trend among southern conservative white Democrats after federal civil rights legislation restored the ability of African Americans to vote in the region, Clemons switched his political affiliation in January 1970 to Republican and served under that affiliation during his final two years in the state Senate.
Split into simpler sentences: Following a trend among southern conservative white Democrats after federal civil rights legislation restored the ability of African Americans to vote in the region, Clemons switched his political affiliation in January 1970 to the Republican Party. He served under that affiliation during his final two years in the state Senate.