Post-Realignment Electoral Map?

[Lord Admirale]

If the Democrats continue to become the populist-left and the GOP is forced to move to the center as a result

This will probably come in the 2040s

[Lord Admirale]

If the Democrats continue to become the populist-left and the GOP is forced to move to the center as a result

This will probably come in the 2040s

The Plains states should probably be a little less GOP here, and the Northeast should be a little more GOP.

IMO, the Plains states don't really vote Republican for the exact same reasons as, say, Arkansas.  All of these states voted Republican throughout the vast majority of time that a state like West Virginia was more friendly to Democrats.  They're states that do relatively well on their own and don't want to be interfered with, and there is a HUGE culture of self-reliance.  They'd stay remarkably GOP in most circumstances, IMO.

This.

The only way ND/SD/NE/etc. would go Dem is either in a super landslide or a William Jennings Bryan-esque figure rose up in the Democratic Party. I know I used populism as an example, but I think only agriculture-centric would work in that region to overcome its heavily Republican leanings.

[Lord Admirale]

If the Democrats continue to become the populist-left and the GOP is forced to move to the center as a result

This will probably come in the 2040s

Why would Tennessee not lean Democratic like its neighbors? Is it just to keep the electoral college evenly split?

I'd say its more Democratic than Republican, but historically its been more friendly to the GOP than most of its former Confederate relatives.