Real election results that would have seemed absurd as predictions

[Oldiesfreak1854]

George W. Bush beating Ann Richards for governor of Texas in 1994.  And a losing Republican candidate for Michigan governor carrying Genesee County in 1960:

FTR, that was Paul Bagwell.  Nixon also carried Genesee County that year, which also would have seemed absurd as a prediction:


These maps really creep me out because it just makes no sense for heavily unionized Genesee County to vote for a losing GOP candidate for both president and Michigan governor, even as Macomb County was voting overwhelmingly Dem.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

A huge portion of this map (MI Governor 1978) probably would have seemed absurd too:

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Hamilton County OH being more Democratic than the national average. Who would have EVER thought that would happen?

[True Federalist]

George W. Bush beating Ann Richards for governor of Texas in 1994.  And a losing Republican candidate for Michigan governor carrying Genesee County in 1960:

FTR, that was Paul Bagwell.  Nixon also carried Genesee County that year, which also would have seemed absurd as a prediction:


These maps really creep me out because it just makes no sense for heavily unionized Genesee County to vote for a losing GOP candidate for both president and Michigan governor, even as Macomb County was voting overwhelmingly Dem.

The Republicans weren't anti-union in 1960 and with their rich contracts, I imagine many of the UAW members voted as befitted their economic interests.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

George W. Bush beating Ann Richards for governor of Texas in 1994.  And a losing Republican candidate for Michigan governor carrying Genesee County in 1960:

FTR, that was Paul Bagwell.  Nixon also carried Genesee County that year, which also would have seemed absurd as a prediction:


These maps really creep me out because it just makes no sense for heavily unionized Genesee County to vote for a losing GOP candidate for both president and Michigan governor, even as Macomb County was voting overwhelmingly Dem.

The Republicans weren't anti-union in 1960 and with their rich contracts, I imagine many of the UAW members voted as befitted their economic interests.

First, Republicans were never anti-union.  I'm a Republican and I'm not necessarily anti-union.  And second, in at least the last two governors' races before that, and in the next one, Genesee County voted for the Democrat.  It seemed to be pretty strong Dem leaning in presidential elections as well, aside from the GOP landsldes (Ike, Nixon '72, and Reagan).  Also, Macomb County, where the UAW had major clout, leaned Dem and voted over 60% for Kennedy and Swainson (the Dem nominee for governor) in 1960.  Macomh Couny was als one of only a few Michigan counties to vote for Stevenson in 1956.  What happened in Genesee County in 1960 that caused it to vote for both a losing GOP presidential and a losing gubernatorial candidate?

[Mr. Morden]

1991, just after the Gulf War ends, and Bush has ~90% job approval ratings: Bush will get the lowest %age of the popular vote of any incumbent president since William Howard Taft.

1992, a few weeks before the Wisconsin Senate primary: Russ Feingold will win the Democratic nomination for Senate with 70% of the vote.

1992, in the wake of Clinton's victory: The Republicans will win control of both houses of Congress in 1994.

September 1998, when the Starr Report was released: In the '98 midtersm, there'll be a net change of zero Senate seats, and the Democrats will actually *gain* ground in the House.

1998, just days before the election: Jesse Ventura will win the Minnesota governorship.

December 2003: John Kerry will win the Democratic nomination.

December 2003: Howard Dean will win no primaries outside of his home state.

Fall of 2007: John McCain will win the Republican nomination.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Summer of 2010: Pat Quinn will win a full term as governor of Illinois.

[Matt from VT]

Before 1964: That one day the Democratic Presidential candidate will consistently carry every, or all but one county in Vermont. And that the governor will be a Democrat, one out of the two senators will be a democrat, and the other one will be a socialist who is a de facto Democrat, and that the Democratic Party will have huge majority's in both state houses. And pretty much the same thing will happen to the Republicans in Mississippi and Alabama.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

June 2006: Jennifer Granholm would be reelected governor of Michigan.

[Northeast Lt. Speaker Spenstar]

1956: The GOP runs candidates who are against New Deal policies.

Before 1994: The Democrats will have a winning Presidential streak, Congress will be Republican Territory

[Liberalrocks]

Before the market crashed.

2008 Obama winning Indiana was pretty shocking. North Carolina was too but Indiana takes the cake that year.