contributing factors in the pub losses in deep red districts. the point was made that the pub politicians in those districts have never had to outrun a dem. Their district is so red that the primaries are the determining elections.
They've never had to run on affordability, climate, civil rights, jobs..... Their only battle cries have been the usual maga memes, abortion, guns, immigration,...
Because this administration and congress have been so odious they lost scores of red voters, women in particular and the minorities and youth that were initially attracted to drumps lies. They were now in the position of needing more that the deplorable vote to win.
Yet they kept banging those same old drums this cycle. So the issues that were losing them support were the ones they ran on. If this election were held next January the losses would have been even worse.
Much like our own troll, pub pols are sticking to issue positions that are meant only to rile up the most right wing nuts and irritate their opponents. Its the easy mindless path so its a good fit for them and their constituencies.
In AZ gubernatorial race, maga Biggs was in over his head running against Dem incumbent Hobbes in the statewide race. He was used to running in deep red districts so he was calling Hobbes a communist in support of random sex change operations on children. He was fell back to all the talking points that chased off indies and old school pubs.
He lost by 300,000 votes.