Re:Weird hypothetical I conceived last night in 2 in the morning

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

So the story begins when the Hansen family of Branson, MO, moves to Arizona in 1985. The elder Hansen, Gary Hansen, becomes a successful businessman, and gets elected to the State Senate for three terms from 1999-2005, representing a district in the northern suburbs of Tucson. His daughter Elsa Hansen (b. 1982) would run for the state house in 2006 in that area as well; she would win on back of her father's money. In 2008 and 2010 she gets re-elected to the state house, and in 2012 she runs for the State Senate, in her father's old seat. She gets re-elected in 2014.

After Martha McSally loses her 2016 re-election bid to Democratic businessman Adam Long, and a massive anti-Republican wave building, Long looked safe. But Republican leaders drafted Hansen to run, and Long is soon found to be ethically challenged. Long loses 49-48 in '18, losing even while successful Democratic senate nominee Tom O'Halleran won the seat easily over defeated incumbent Jeff Flake. In 2020, 2022, and 2024, Hansen survives three close races and redistricting, which gave her a more Democratic seat confined to just Pima County.

Donald Trump resigned from office in late 2019, making Pence President. Tom Pierriello wins the 2017 election over Gillespie by 11 points, and in 2020 he gets nominated to challenge Pence. Pence wins 277-261 only after recounts; he loses the popular vote 49%-45%, and loses FL and wins MI by only 2,928 votes. A Bush v. Gore type case goes before the court; Neil Gorsuch and the 4 liberals rule against Pence, but the recounts do not overturn Pence's win. The results were shocking; many expected Pence to do better.

The economy goes down in the dumps in early 2021, and Democrats do well in 2022, gaining 10 Senate seats, giving them a filibuster-proof majority. FL was an exception; Anitere Flores is able to hold the seat with a 2% margin, keeping the seat in Republican hands after Rubio retired. In AZ, John McCain is upset by Democratic businessman Antonio Sanchez, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

By 2024, the economy had still not recovered. The 2024 election is looking to be very winnable for the left. Pierriello once again wins the Democratic primary and makes Kamala Harris his running mate, while the Republican primary is a death match between Cruz and Pence. Pence barely wins. His running mate being Congressman Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania annoys Cruz backers at the convention, and there is little unity. In the end, the infighting means that Cruz decides not to give a speech, and the party was still divided post-convention. Pence is utterly defeated in November, defeated 454-84, winning only ID, UT, WY, SD, NE, KS, OK, AR, LA, KY, TN, AL, and SC. Republicans are hurt as well on the Senate level, losing another 1 seat.

In 2026, things are very even; 2020 incumbents almost without exception were re-elected.

In 2028, Perriello/Harris easily wins re-election over the Cory Gardner/Anitere Flores ticket, but the margins are much closer than people generally expected. Hansen runs for the US Senate and wins thanks to the Democratic incumbent's troubles. In 2030, Democrats do decently as well, since the economy is good enough.

2032 sees President Perriello lose popularity thanks to the poor economy. His VP, Harris, is nominated, and names six-term Vermont Governor Tim Ashe as her running mate. Hansen runs and gets nominated, and names Flores as her VP. Hansen wins very narrowly. Hansen/Flores would be re-elected in 2036 over Tim Ashe/Mark Begich, and Flores would win the 2040 and 2044 races. Democrats gain back the White House in 2048.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

I often do this at 2 in the morning, as well. Not only relatable, but also a good TL!