It's interesting. I used to think similarly, in all honesty, but it was foolish to rely on conventional wisdom after 2016. It isn't so conventional now.
I think there's definitely been a shift more in favor of progressives, and I think Republicans have done it unintentionally. Taking a hard right position can have two outcomes. Either the opposition compromises in the middle (Obama years) or the opposition becomes even further left as a reaction to the far right. Because of how extremist and obstinate Republicans have been, people have become more progressive and embraced those policies.
On top of that you have age demographics, which again Republicans have screwed up. Young people are overwhelmingly in favor of progressives and completely detest Republicans. The pandemic was harder on older people, but Republicans also allowed/encouraged conspiracy theories that killed their supporters who could have otherwise lived.
I know there's other factors I'm forgetting at the moment, but I think the surge in Democrat strength is probably driven significantly by Progressives.
It's interesting. I used to think similarly, in all honesty, but it was foolish to rely on conventional wisdom after 2016. It isn't so conventional now.
I think there's definitely been a shift more in favor of progressives, and I think Republicans have done it unintentionally. Taking a hard right position can have two outcomes. Either the opposition compromises in the middle (Obama years) or the opposition becomes even further left as a reaction to the far right. Because of how extremist and obstinate Republicans have been, people have become more progressive and embraced those policies.
On top of that you have age demographics, which again Republicans have screwed up. Young people are overwhelmingly in favor of progressives and completely detest Republicans. The pandemic was harder on older people, but Republicans also allowed/encouraged conspiracy theories that killed their supporters who could have otherwise lived.
I know there's other factors I'm forgetting at the moment, but I think the surge in Democrat strength is probably driven significantly by Progressives.