What would it take for Washington DC to vote Republican?
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 28, 2024, 08:32:22 PM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  General Politics
  Political Geography & Demographics (Moderators: muon2, 15 Down, 35 To Go)
  What would it take for Washington DC to vote Republican?
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3
Author Topic: What would it take for Washington DC to vote Republican?  (Read 17431 times)
FerrisBueller86
jhsu
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 507


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: March 05, 2005, 07:05:14 PM »

Washington DC is so heavily Democratic that no Democratic nominee has ever received less than 74% of the vote.  Marion Barry was elected mayor even after serving time in prison for the infamous cocaine conviction.  Some of you have suggested that DC is so partisan that it would vote for Zell Miller over Lincoln Chaffee.

Because DC has had electoral votes only since 1964, it lacks a voting record under the earlier political alignment.

So what keeps DC so heavily Democratic?  Short of a presidential election taking place when a Republican president has a 90%+ approval rating (like Bush Sr. right after Gulf War I or George W. Bush right after Sept. 11th), what would it take for the Republican nominee to win the 3 electoral votes of Washington DC?
Logged
○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└
jfern
Atlas Institution
*****
Posts: 53,612


Political Matrix
E: -7.38, S: -8.36

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2005, 07:10:31 PM »

Washington DC is so heavily Democratic that no Democratic nominee has ever received less than 74% of the vote.  Marion Barry was elected mayor even after serving time in prison for the infamous cocaine conviction.  Some of you have suggested that DC is so partisan that it would vote for Zell Miller over Lincoln Chaffee.

Because DC has had electoral votes only since 1964, it lacks a voting record under the earlier political alignment.

So what keeps DC so heavily Democratic?  Short of a presidential election taking place when a Republican president has a 90%+ approval rating (like Bush Sr. right after Gulf War I or George W. Bush right after Sept. 11th), what would it take for the Republican nominee to win the 3 electoral votes of Washington DC?

I think it has more to do with the Democratic nominee than anything else. George Wallace and Zell Miller are examples of Democrats who would not do well in DC.
Logged
Rob
Bob
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,277
United States
Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -9.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2005, 09:55:57 PM »

The Democrats will never lose DC. Even if there is another realignment, it will stay with the Democrats, just like Kansas and Nebraska have always stayed with the GOP.
Logged
FerrisBueller86
jhsu
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 507


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2005, 10:10:00 PM »

The Democrats will never lose DC. Even if there is another realignment, it will stay with the Democrats, just like Kansas and Nebraska have always stayed with the GOP.
So why do these areas keep sticking with the same party?  Many constituencies have changed as the parties have changed.  For example, African Americans were heavily Republican until the FDR administration and then became heavily Democratic as a result of the New Deal.  The reactionaries of the South used to be heavily Democratic and then turned heavily Republican. 
Logged
Rob
Bob
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,277
United States
Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -9.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2005, 10:16:32 PM »
« Edited: March 09, 2005, 01:21:11 AM by Bob »

The Democrats will never lose DC. Even if there is another realignment, it will stay with the Democrats, just like Kansas and Nebraska have always stayed with the GOP.
So why do these areas keep sticking with the same party?  Many constituencies have changed as the parties have changed.  For example, African Americans were heavily Republican until the FDR administration and then became heavily Democratic as a result of the New Deal.  The reactionaries of the South used to be heavily Democratic and then turned heavily Republican. 

I've wondered that myself. A while back, I started a thread on Kane County, Utah, which has always voted Republican except in 1916. It really irritates me that those people vote Republican when they're progressive, and still remain loyal when their platform is completely opposite. So why the hell weren't they Democrats back then?

These areas are inexcusable- they must not care about "issues", or "candidates"; they just care about the little R on the ballot.

(And all of that applies to always Democratic areas too, though there aren't many).
Logged
dazzleman
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,777
Political Matrix
E: 1.88, S: 1.59

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2005, 07:20:24 AM »

There would have to be a complete political realignment for DC to vote Republican.

Much of DC is non-citizens who can't vote, and many of the citizens who can vote are black.  Even the white citizens tend to be limousine liberals who vote Democratic.  It feeds upon itself - the atmosphere is so unfriendly to Republicans that they choose to live elsewhere.

It's no coincidence in my opinion that a city that is so strongly and mindlessly Democratic is also completely dysfunctional.  The two are usually strongly linked.
Logged
Joe Republic
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 40,043
Ukraine


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2005, 07:10:57 PM »

It's no coincidence in my opinion that a city that is so strongly and mindlessly Democratic is also completely dysfunctional.  The two are usually strongly linked.

...Whereas the areas that are strongly and mindlessly Republican are virtual paradises in comparison?  Not in my mind.
Logged
dazzleman
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,777
Political Matrix
E: 1.88, S: 1.59

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2005, 07:28:04 PM »

It's no coincidence in my opinion that a city that is so strongly and mindlessly Democratic is also completely dysfunctional.  The two are usually strongly linked.

...Whereas the areas that are strongly and mindlessly Republican are virtual paradises in comparison?  Not in my mind.

Generally, they're a lot more functional than DC.
Logged
phk
phknrocket1k
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 12,906


Political Matrix
E: 1.42, S: -1.22

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2005, 07:32:04 PM »

It's no coincidence in my opinion that a city that is so strongly and mindlessly Democratic is also completely dysfunctional.  The two are usually strongly linked.

...Whereas the areas that are strongly and mindlessly Republican are virtual paradises in comparison?  Not in my mind.

Generally, they're a lot more functional than DC.

Fresno, California isn't that much more functional, it even boasts a higher poverty rate.
Logged
Alcon
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 30,867
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2005, 08:26:01 PM »

It's no coincidence in my opinion that a city that is so strongly and mindlessly Democratic is also completely dysfunctional.  The two are usually strongly linked.

...Whereas the areas that are strongly and mindlessly Republican are virtual paradises in comparison?  Not in my mind.

Generally, they're a lot more functional than DC.

That is because they are generally not big cities and tend to be wealthier.
Logged
ian
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,461


Political Matrix
E: -0.52, S: -1.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2005, 08:28:40 PM »

A foreign policy, economic, and socially liberal Republican.
Logged
ATFFL
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 5,754
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2005, 08:45:34 PM »

A really confusing butterfly ballot.
Logged
Redefeatbush04
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 1,504


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2005, 09:28:33 PM »

A really confusing butterfly ballot.
^
Logged
Notre Dame rules!
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 777


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2005, 11:42:14 PM »

It would take a nuclear strike from the Chi-Comms to kill virtually all of its inhabitants.  No, wait...that wouldn't do it either.  Nope, D.C. remains Democrat.
Logged
Jake
dubya2004
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,621
Cuba


Political Matrix
E: -0.90, S: -0.35

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2005, 05:31:06 PM »

Even Zell Miller would win DC.  Anyone who has that (D) next to their name on the ballot would carry DC.  No Republican would win unless maybe the Democrat raped their wife and then ate their children on live TV.  If enough saw it, DC could go Repulican, but it would be close.
Logged
○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└
jfern
Atlas Institution
*****
Posts: 53,612


Political Matrix
E: -7.38, S: -8.36

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #15 on: March 09, 2005, 07:41:04 PM »

Even Zell Miller would win DC.  Anyone who has that (D) next to their name on the ballot would carry DC.  No Republican would win unless maybe the Democrat raped their wife and then ate their children on live TV.  If enough saw it, DC could go Repulican, but it would be close.

Lowell Weicker (R) would easily beat Zell Miller (D), it wouldn't even be close.
Logged
Jake
dubya2004
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,621
Cuba


Political Matrix
E: -0.90, S: -0.35

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #16 on: March 09, 2005, 07:52:03 PM »

Even Zell Miller would win DC.  Anyone who has that (D) next to their name on the ballot would carry DC.  No Republican would win unless maybe the Democrat raped their wife and then ate their children on live TV.  If enough saw it, DC could go Repulican, but it would be close.

Lowell Weicker (R) would easily beat Zell Miller (D), it wouldn't even be close.

There would be enough Democratic pocket voters to push Zell over the top.
Logged
12th Doctor
supersoulty
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 20,584
Ukraine


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #17 on: March 09, 2005, 07:59:05 PM »

The Democrats will never lose DC. Even if there is another realignment, it will stay with the Democrats, just like Kansas and Nebraska have always stayed with the GOP.

Ehem!

1896

Logged
Rob
Bob
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,277
United States
Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -9.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #18 on: March 09, 2005, 09:04:40 PM »

The Democrats will never lose DC. Even if there is another realignment, it will stay with the Democrats, just like Kansas and Nebraska have always stayed with the GOP.

Ehem!

1896



That was only because Byran was from Nebraska, and the farmers were starving. Even then, his margins were fairly narrow. They reverted to their traditional Republicanism in 1900.
Logged
Joe Republic
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 40,043
Ukraine


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #19 on: March 14, 2005, 07:13:27 PM »

Seeing as how Vermont used to vote for the Republicans in terms of about 65%-80% for a large part of the 20th century, and now is probably the safest Democratic state after DC itself, I'd say anything is possible.  The reason Vermont switched is because of the political shifts of the two parties, and the demographic shift (rich liberal New Yorkers emigrating to the small towns up north).

So, despite the fact that DC currently votes Democratic in similar margins as Vermont used to for the Republicans, I'd say DC could actually vote Republican in the distant future.  But only under similar circumstances; i.e. another party realignment or a demographic shift.  Coupled perhaps with an economic boom.
Logged
WMS
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,562


Political Matrix
E: -3.48, S: -1.22

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #20 on: March 16, 2005, 11:17:45 PM »

A meteor hits DC, destroying the east half of the city.

Then, the Dems run a pro-life populist while the Reps run a pro-choice gay libertarian (why gay? well, there IS a gay libertarian Rep City Councillor up in the rich NW Dupont Circle area, right?), and some leftist Green lunatic runs a strong campaign.

Final result: 33.4% R - 33.3% D - 33.3% G

Grin
Logged
Hitchabrut
republicanjew18
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 1,674


Political Matrix
E: 8.38, S: 7.49

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #21 on: April 03, 2005, 03:39:05 PM »

Hitler (D) vs. Kerry (R)
Logged
Beet
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 28,805


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #22 on: April 10, 2005, 04:44:42 PM »

The bigger question is, why are most cities so Democratic?
Logged
dazzleman
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,777
Political Matrix
E: 1.88, S: 1.59

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #23 on: October 08, 2005, 06:37:47 AM »

Even Zell Miller would win DC.  Anyone who has that (D) next to their name on the ballot would carry DC.  No Republican would win unless maybe the Democrat raped their wife and then ate their children on live TV.  If enough saw it, DC could go Repulican, but it would be close.

I don't think even that would make DC vote Republican.  I think the people there are pretty much brain dead, and the state of their city proves it.  If Congress hadn't basically taken over because it was a disgrace to have such a dysfunctional city as the nation's capital, DC, aside from the national mall area, would have descended to the level of a third-world city.
Logged
dazzleman
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,777
Political Matrix
E: 1.88, S: 1.59

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #24 on: October 08, 2005, 06:39:23 AM »

The bigger question is, why are most cities so Democratic?

The more dysfunctional a city's population is, the more heavily Democratic it will vote.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.053 seconds with 13 queries.