Anyone who has studied Stuart history is familiar with the concept of the court and the country: the juxtaposition of the allegedly effete, proto-Catholic court of Charles I with the solid, rock-ribbed Protestant squirearchy. The Paris Commune was crushed by conservative politicians and soldiers from rural areas. Brexit lost in London, but prevailed outside of the capital. The current Polish government is completely beholden to its reactionary rural supporters. And so on.
In other words, the electoral map in this country, which basically consists of islands of intense blue surrounded by oceans of rural red, is a common and natural phenomenon. Here’s what is unusual about it:
- The GOP in many respects is an alliance of 19th Century liberalism and largely rural reactionaries. You don’t really see that in European countries; the two groups are in separate parties. In other words, Marine LePen is not a Republican.
- Our federal system effectively gives a disproportionate amount of influence to rural areas. The system is consequently “rigged” in favor of red candidates on a nationwide basis.