This state of affairs is predicated on the power the federal government has to influence people's lives and livelihoods. When the feds can take away your abortion or your guns and create and destroy entire industries with the stroke of a pen it should come as no surprise that people elect based on party platform rather than choosing politicians who they think will actually represent their interests.

Except you better protect both your parties interests and your own when you maintain some minimal standards.

The number of Republicans who where willing to vote for Trump in the first election but not the second cost them the second election. That’s a common pattern where electing people you don’t like ends up weakening the party long term.

I am not saying you need to love everyone you vote for, but for people who are “holding their nose” you have to consider both short term and long term effects. To use a Democratic example, Biden is likely to be dead weight going in the 2024 election.

What about people who didn't vote for Trump either of the first two times, but would do so if it came to that again? It's a lot easier to hold your nose for one smell while another smell is fresh.

Do you think Republicans will pick up more seats in congress in 2026 and 2028 if Biden is elected in 2024 or Trump is?

IMO, Biden v Trump 2024 is a poison pill for the whichever party wins the presidency. Political power is about more than who’s sitting in the white house.

I don't think it will matter much. Everyone's mind is made up already; the relative lack of movement in 2022 proved that. The parties will dig their heels in and back whoever boosts their power, which doesn't necessarily mean beating the other side.

> Except you better protect both your parties interests and your own when you maintain some minimal standards.

This isn't always possible. I would call myself left in most senses, but I value 2a, and am a campaign badge holder. I am almost always voting against my biggest interests no matter what way I may vote.

The real answer here is more parties that reflect Americans interests better than two parties ever can, imo.