I reside in Ohio, a state located in one of the most heavily Democratic counties in the entire Midwest. Throughout my life, Republicans have rarely held power at any level of government below the state level. The most recent Republican to represent my congressional district ended their term in 1982, while the last Republican mayor of Toledo stepped down in 1989, just before I was born.
As I’ve grown accustomed to seeing my preferred candidates consistently lose when I cast my vote, I’ve learned to find humor in the situation. There have been numerous instances that provided amusing anecdotes, such as when half of Toledo City Council faced arrest on bribery charges, some involving comically small amounts of money. Another memorable moment was when former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner suggested solving complaints about airport noise by relocating deaf individuals to the affected neighborhood.
Nationally, there are current events that also present some entertainment. President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have declined significantly. His reputation never recovered from the mishandled Afghanistan withdrawal, and soaring inflation continues to hurt the middle class. With Biden’s mental state on the decline, it’s expected his popularity will continue to drop. If trends persist and former President Donald Trump secures the GOP nomination, some influential Democrats may seek to replace the 81-year-old president with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been actively positioning himself for a potential presidential run.
In such a scenario, both Democratic operatives and voters would likely collectively feel relieved. However, the persisting issues regarding the economy and the growing concerns about the southern border security remain pivotal factors. Despite this, it would still be an intriguing spectacle to witness a newly backed Democratic candidate struggle against Trump.
Nevertheless, considering Trump’s history from Anthony Scaramucci to Rudy Giuliani, his ability to make wise personnel decisions is debatable. If this trend continues, the speculation surrounding the vice-presidential selection promises to be very interesting. Trump is openly considering Nikki Haley (R-SC) as his running mate, a former governor whose stances on border policies, transgender issues, and foreign policy are at odds with the core beliefs of the Trump base. Observing the reactions within the MAGA community to Haley’s inclusion on the ticket would indeed be intriguing.
Alternatively, Trump might appease his base by selecting a colorful VP candidate such as Kari Lake, the Arizona politician who turned a seemingly assured gubernatorial win into a significant defeat. Trump’s victory in Arizona this November is crucial, and if his supporters get what they want only to have that decision backfire on his candidacy, it would undoubtedly be a noteworthy turn of events.