How Democrats let blue states become GOP targets in the midterms
www.vox.com

...If Republicans have a good night on Tuesday and win a big majority in the House of Representatives, their gains won't necessarily come from the swing districts that have been perennial battlegrounds in recent elections. Instead, much of a "red wave" could come from blue states, with Republicans poised to pick up multiple seats in states like Oregon and New York, while Democrats in states that are less favorable political terrain might hold on.

It's a surprising turn of events that's largely rooted in self-inflicted injuries. The 2020 census meant this election cycle was the first with new congressional maps, and while Republicans were able to successfully gerrymander many of the states they controlled to their advantage, Democrats mostly failed to do the same.

Similarly, Democrats thought focusing on abortion rights would pay off in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in June reversing Roe v. Wade, particularly after they won special elections in upstate New York and Alaska. However, in states where abortion rights are protected under state law, the issue hasn't resonated with voters. Instead, Democrats have suffered as Republicans focused on issues like the economy and crime....

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