Will DC Ever go Republican?

[qwerty]

It's been 40 years since they were granted electors, and the Democrats have won it in a landslide each time, obviously beause the urban population.

Is it possible that the district's three electorial votes will ever go to a Republican canidate?

[Lunar]

Not until the Republicans can gain a majority of the Black vote.  This pretty much requires a party reversal.

[jimrtex]

It's been 40 years since they were granted electors, and the Democrats have won it in a landslide each time, obviously beause the urban population.

Is it possible that the district's three electorial votes will ever go to a Republican canidate?

Congress has the authority to determine the manner by which electors are appointed (they have the same role as a legislature with respect to a State's electors).  So Congress could appoint 3 Republican electors.  This is more likely than 3 Republican electors being elected by the voters.

[minionofmidas]

It's been 40 years since they were granted electors, and the Democrats have won it in a landslide each time, obviously beause the urban population.

Is it possible that the district's three electorial votes will ever go to a Republican canidate?

Congress has the authority to determine the manner by which electors are appointed (they have the same role as a legislature with respect to a State's electors).  So Congress could appoint 3 Republican electors.  This is more likely than 3 Republican electors being elected by the voters.

More likely to happen this year, I grant you that. But we're talking tiny fractions of a percentage point here.
In the long run, a complete realignment is not impossible. It's happened before in America, might happen some day. Alternatively, DC might become all gentryfied and the ghetto people are all forced to move to Maryland. While, in the current alignment, the city would probably still be (comparatively marginally) Democratic then, it could go Rep in a landslide.
Give it enough time, and I think either development will become more plausible than your "legal coup" scenario.

[nomorelies]

Major landslide

[Dr. Cynic]

Maybe someday, but no time soon.

[No more McShame]

Didn't we used to ask the same question about the South after reconstruction.  It will take a long time .

[King]

If the Republicans ever nominate a minority (Hispanic or Black) or if Bush or another Republican president grants D.C. full statehood. South Carolina used to vote 97 to 3% Democratic, until Kennedy did civil rights stuff.

[jimrtex]

More likely to happen this year, I grant you that. But we're talking tiny fractions of a percentage point here.
In the long run, a complete realignment is not impossible. It's happened before in America, might happen some day. Alternatively, DC might become all gentryfied and the ghetto people are all forced to move to Maryland. While, in the current alignment, the city would probably still be (comparatively marginally) Democratic then, it could go Rep in a landslide.
Give it enough time, and I think either development will become more plausible than your "legal coup" scenario.

Where are the people who live in the gentrified areas going to work?  There is only one major business in Washington.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

The most probable scenario in the near future is someone with a lot of money bribing the electors.

I'd happily change my vote for enough money to purchase a nice, big hacienda in Bolivia and retire.

[minionofmidas]

More likely to happen this year, I grant you that. But we're talking tiny fractions of a percentage point here.
In the long run, a complete realignment is not impossible. It's happened before in America, might happen some day. Alternatively, DC might become all gentryfied and the ghetto people are all forced to move to Maryland. While, in the current alignment, the city would probably still be (comparatively marginally) Democratic then, it could go Rep in a landslide.
Give it enough time, and I think either development will become more plausible than your "legal coup" scenario.

Where are the people who live in the gentrified areas going to work?  There is only one major business in Washington.

Uh...the Pentagon! (okay, not that very convincing)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I don't like gentrification... it doesn't solve any problems, it just moves them a few miles downwind...

[Siege40]

The Republicans will win DC about the same time Hell freezes over, or maybe a little later.

Siege

[A18]

If the Republicans ever nominate a minority (Hispanic or Black) or if Bush or another Republican president grants D.C. full statehood. South Carolina used to vote 97 to 3% Democratic, until Kennedy did civil rights stuff.

Actually, I think the Republicans got about 50% of the vote from 1952 onward.

[The Duke]

Ever is a long time, but I don;t have much confidence I'll ever see it in my life.

[they don't love you like i love you]

If the Republicans ever nominate a minority (Hispanic or Black)

it's been proven many times again that a minority candidate for the Republicans gains them only marginally more of the minority vote, if at all. It'll never be enough to cover a 70+ point gap.

and since it took a complete party reversal for the south to vote Republican, the same would be true of DC.

[minionofmidas]

If the Republicans ever nominate a minority (Hispanic or Black) or if Bush or another Republican president grants D.C. full statehood. South Carolina used to vote 97 to 3% Democratic, until Kennedy did civil rights stuff.

Actually, I think the Republicans got about 50% of the vote from 1952 onward.

Republicans started to creep back into competition in the South by 1952. In the Upper South, Eisenhower actually won a number of states. The reversal was completed (more or less) by Goldwater '64.

[Donovan]

If the Republicans ever nominate a minority (Hispanic or Black) or if Bush or another Republican president grants D.C. full statehood. South Carolina used to vote 97 to 3% Democratic, until Kennedy did civil rights stuff.

If you think that DC will turn Republican, you have no sense of reality.
Actually, I think the Republicans got about 50% of the vote from 1952 onward.

Republicans started to creep back into competition in the South by 1952. In the Upper South, Eisenhower actually won a number of states. The reversal was completed (more or less) by Goldwater '64.

[Schmitz in 1972]

Not unless the Democrats do something that really ticks off African-American vote. With their vote being an essential foundation of the party, I wouldn't foresee that ever happenning. The reason why the Democrats lost the south in the 50s and 60s is because they put their belief in freedom for all americans before petty politics. The Demorat's press for civil rights alienated the south, but the Democrats didn't care if they lost a large bloc of support as long as they were doing what they believed was right. That kind of thing would never happen today, either party. That is why I believe that DC will always go Democratic

[feeblepizza]

If they nominate a spotless black candidate, then it could be a far-off possibiliy. Maybe the Dems would score under 70%.

[Bo]

If Lincoln comes back from the dead and becomes the GOP nominee, then maybe. Otherwise no.

[Derek]

It wouldn't vote GOP if Jesus himself were the nominee.

[DS0816]

Have the Republican and Democratic parties trade names … and, in that case, the Republican Party will be able to carry District of Columbia.

[Derek]

Have the Republican and Democratic parties trade names … and, in that case, the Republican Party will be able to carry District of Columbia.

That's true because the DC voters aren't smart enough to look at the names.

[Bo]

It wouldn't vote GOP if Jesus himself were the nominee.

I beg to differ.