No because the next Democratic president after Biden, even if she is Biden's VP, won't be up against a Republican who's name begins with "D".
This is all just for fun of course, but here's my take on a 40 year cycle that respects the spirit, but not the letter, of previous cycles:
46. Joe Biden (D-DE) (2021-2025)
The Old Man, but old enough to step down after one term. In this scenario he picks Warren as his VP, despite Baker.
47. Liz Warren (D-MA) (2025-2029)
The Veep, also steps down after only one term. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81, R-OH) is the most recent President to do this before Biden, btw.
48. (R) (2029-2037)
The Moderate, is able to revive the Republican Party post-Trump. With economic progressives in office for the past 8 years, this could be a libertarian figure - fiscally conservative but just drops most social issues. (Gay/Lesbian Republican maybe?) Of course, that might be an issue in the south, and there's still a chance of a rural WCW populist instead. One thing's for sure, Trumpist methods for actually running the country are not returning, ever.
49. (R) (2037-2041)
This one doesn't correspond to anything, and I deliberately put it in specifically to ruin the sanctity of the cycle, while at the same time making sure it's 40 years instead of 36. Previous President's VP, first President since Bush I to lose reelection, although the fairness of the 2040 election is questioned.
Perhaps in the future we'll have a popular vote compact, and that will lead to a situation where the Democrats win a very close election thanks only to running up the margins in the big states.
As for the one term that s/he does get, it's a third term of the previous president, with some minor surface differences. The nation continues trucking along, trying to deal with climate change....
50. (D-TX) (2041-2049)
The Scion and The Texan. I assume there's some Democratic political family somewhere in Texas. Climate change gets baaaaaad in the early 40s. Cities like Houston, New Orleans, and Miami drown in hurricanes and high tide. Heat waves create a new dust bowl, as the great plains become a complete wasteland. Despite high levels of personal corruption, people place their hopes in this president to provide relief.
51. (R) (2049-2057)
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same. Turns out people don't like living in FEMA camps indefinitely, and people start getting really mad at the way the previous President is doing things. One pattern shared by both Texans is that both of their parties nominated their more humble political rivals in the next election (H
3 68/McCain 2k8) which they lost. The loser of the 2040 Democratic primary, who is neither a scion nor particularly corrupt, is back to get embarrassed.
52. (D) (2057-2061)
The Wildcard, a very young figure (born in the early 20s) who nonetheless attracts some grouchy old millennial progressives. Kids these days never had to deal with Dubya Bush or Donald Dump! They have ZERO respect for their elders. This youngster is one of the GOOD ones we can trust to keep the future alive! Global climate change will destroy humanity and the only way to stop it is to BAN LAB GROWN MEAT! At least tofu isn't made from
CHEMICALS!!!1. I'M NOT OLD!!
53. (R) (2061-2069)
The Old Woman
Carrying herself like a Matriarch, this figure is a millennial and was originally a Democrat, much like Ronald Reagan used to be over 100 years ago. Her platform is mostly about issues that don't exist or aren't understood yet. 2064 is the first true landslide in the 21st century, as they nation just throws itself at 4 more years.
However, to deliberately break the cycle, the Democrats come back in 2068 and win that year, although they essentially concede most issues from 2060/64 to the GOP. Who knows what the future will bring, and what new divisions will wreck havoc on America?
Poll
