Almost every election has gone Dem since the presidential election [1], and the swings from GOP to Dems have been incredibly high in the last two months (Texas [2] and Louisiana [3]). A Minnesota rep won 95% of the vote [4], the GOP brand is dead for a generation imho.

Self preservation votes. Lots of them are retiring and don't care [5]. So, this Admin and Congress should beat on the economy and the electorate harder. I insist, as it contributes to system changes [6].

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46864405 (citations)

[2] Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate seat Trump won by 17 points - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/texas-democrat-taylor-... - February 2nd, 2026

[3] Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez wins Louisiana state House special seat in district Trump won - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chasity-verret-martinez-wins-de... - February 8th, 2026

[4] Democrat wins Minnesota election with 95% of vote amid ICE crackdown - https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-win-minnesota-special-ele... | https://archive.today/dFBJp - January 28th, 2026

[5] Members of Congress are fleeing the job at a historically high rate - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/members-congress-a... - February 10th, 2026 ("Fifty-one House members and nine senators have decided not to run for re-election, the most retirements from Congress this century. The number of House departures is inching closer to a recent high in 2018, when 52 lawmakers didn’t run for re-election. And, as in 2018, which was a bruising election year for the GOP, more House Republicans are heading for the exits than Democrats.")

[6] Trump’s ‘Titanic’ Economy Polling Puts the Senate in Play—Analyst - https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-titanic-economy-polling-puts... - February 9th, 2026