North Carolina

 The Tarheel State is following the infamous example of Wisconsin as a swing state that has gerrymandered its legislature to prevent Democrats from winning seats in a 51-49 state. Donald Trump won 51-48, but Josh Stein won 55-40 over Black Nazi Mark Robinson. Democrats won the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Attorney General, Secretary of State and Superintendent of Schools. All in very close races. It's a true swing state, as educational polarization has moved college educated voters towards Democrats.

The House delegation is 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats. The State Senate is 30-19; the State House 71-48. The House delegation is accomplished by having three super Blue districts (D+35, +46, +47) and a bunch of Republican districts that are R+14 to 17. There's a similar dynamic in the State House where Dems run unopposed or have over 60% or even 70% of the vote and Republicans win in the 50s and low 60s. Classic "cracking and packing".

Gerrymandering is arguably a greater threat to democracy in America than Donald Trump. Trump has four years to fuck things up, and he definitely will. But the inability of Americans to have a legitimate choice in their legislative elections means that there is no check on executive power. If North Carolina and Wisconsin were not so gerrymandered, we would have a Democratic House of Representatives. 

You have to think Democrats would pick up two seats from North Carolina, but Wisconsin is worse. Wisconsin has two Democratic House members in D+40 and D+52 districts. Republicans range from R+3 to +29. This is in a true 50-50 state with a Democratic governor and Senator. However the State Senates and House's gerrymanders have been ruled unconstitutional under the Wisconsin constitution. 

Yes, there's a lot of "work" that Democrats have to do after this election. One priority should be getting anti-gerrymandering amendments into state constitutions. The focus should be on ballot initiatives in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. Arizona, in particular could offer a couple more swing districts and even Ohio might open up another district.

We have seen and we will see that the Republican Party is incapable of legislating. This narrow House majority will likely fail to write any of Trump and Musk's egregious ideas into law. Gaining and cementing control of the House has to be a Democratic priority, and yet the party has been wedded to the White House focus for too long.