It would be interesting to see what the genesis of blue/democrat, blue/republican was. It probably is no coincidence, as the connection between red/communism is obvious.
I know exactly when it was. Election Night 2000. But the Stupid Party being what it is, they refused to repudiate the Orwellian Newsspeak relabelling of the party colors. No Conservative party on the planet has “red” for its color. It’s the international color for leftism/totalitarianism, always has been. Soviet Russia, Red China, Nazi Germany, et al. Every time I hear or read someone refer to a Conservative state as a “Red” state, I want to slap them upside the head. Trained like good little media seals.