I may have said the left was disappointed to lose the TN-07 special election on Tuesday, but right wing pundit Erick Erickson, on deeper analysis, appears to be horrified at the implications of a mere 8 point victory margin:
It is also fair to say that in a district that Trump won by twenty-two points just over 12 months ago, the Republican should not have won by less than ten points with turnout at roughly 2022 levels.
If we get to the midterms and every district shifts the way TN-07 did last night, the Democrats would pick up around 43 seats. Every single county in the district shifted left, some more than others.
Much like the Democrats, it doesn’t appear to have crossed Erickson’s mind to recommend Party reform, like, get rid of Trump and all his minions, adherents, and admirers, and get back to responsible governance. Yes, that might gut the Party, but moderate Republicans, who perhaps Erickson despises as he’s a purist with no skin in the game, should then return – although not in time for 2026 elections.
Speaking of the Democrats, will they reform before 2026? I have no special insights, but there’s precious little evidence that they’re in the process of recognizing their blunders and expelling those who blundered, especially out of self-interest.
I expect 2026 will be an exhibition of candidates who think the world operates one way and will fail to understand when the world turns unexpectedly and bites their hand off.
