[djrogers]

You're either thinking about this too broadly, or as a system filled with static entities. Within voting districts, politics is local - individuals can sway voters, voters can decide to show up/skip voting, etc.

Also, the concept of a 'blue/red' district can be very blurry - there are many examples of 'blue' districts (districts with democrat congress reps, and a history of voting blue) that voted red in the last presidential election, and vice-versa for previous elections.

Historically, Americans prefer to vote for people, not parties.

[rjsw]

Do people in the US have the same feeling for what area is 'local' as they did when districts were drawn up ?