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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The Midwest is realigning because of the decline of union influence. Midwestern states stayed majority Democratic because of union strength, and labor's clout and MW Democratic Members of Congress kept the Democratic platform somewhat protectionist.

As labor's clout has declined, white blue-collar workers in the MW started voting like white blue-collar workers elsewhere - more white than blue-collar, and Democrats started targeting middle-class suburbanites more and relied more on turning out women, young voters, and minorities to make up for losing white working class men. Generally, the MW has stayed heavily Democratic in urban areas but become more Republican everywhere else, like the rest of the country.

A lot of House Democrats from the MW lost their seats in 2010 including two major committee chairman - Oberstar (MN) was Chairman of Transportation & Infrastructure; Skelton was Chairman of Armed Services; 5 Dems lost in Ohio, 4 lost in Illinois, and one each in several other MW states. (Also 3 losses in central/western PA).

The Democratic caucus became overwhelmingly East Coast, West Coast, and minority Members from the major   cities in between. The MW lost a lot of influence in setting the Democratic agenda in Washington, and the states became more difficult for Governor and Presidential elections when there were no longer entrenched Democratic Congressional incumbents on the ballot and campaigning and organizing. [/quote]

OP here -- thank you for this summary.  Do you have any thoughts on what this may mean going forward?  I am hoping we find more palpable/effective candidates on both sides of the aisle, but my gut says we're going to see more than extreme candidates on both sides.  The GOP may go with someone less extreme than Trump in the next election, who will face an extreme liberal; then in the following election even more extremism.  And by extreme, I mean in the sense of how the opposition views the candidate.  Taken to the extreme, no one will hold the middle and we will become a much weaker nation.  Next thing you know, Canada will invade us.  (FWIW That's my attempt at levity.)[/quote]

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