Illinois swung D in 2016 despite it being Obama's home state. Only on Atlas would you find people who think it will soon be a Republican state, lol.
Atlas is full of nerds who dream of realignments because they read about them and think they'd be cool to *experience*.
I don't know if it's entirely about some 'coolness' factor. If the realignment for 2020 played out in any way like the 1980s, there would be no clear consensus that an alignment even took place until at least 2024, as it would be a blowout, and as we all know, blowouts don't happen post-80s. Unless there is a major shift in Congressional power under a Democratic president which results in Democrats not losing Congress in the president's midterm, it may be the case that a consensus on such a realignment is only reached years after the fact.
Also, I think for a lot of Democrats, the dreams of a realignment has more to do with the left finally being able to implement their policy wishlist rather than face years of more obstruction from Republicans. I can't speak for everyone else, but that's how I see it. Sure the elections would be fun to watch, but it's really about actually getting things done.
I would also add that another part of my dream for such a realignment is to put an end to conservative smugness that they are the only people who have a right to govern in America.
