What is the .. etymology of this change, because I’m old enough to remember this from national election coverage on the major networks but memory is not always infallible but there doesn’t seem to be anything by way of explanation. The green map above reminded me of that - gave me a bit of indigestion but whattaya do? Then you brought it up, which is one of the great things about the forums.
I think it was the Carter election map shown on TV that was the genesis of the change. Newspapers didn't use so much color back then. The leftist MSM then switched the color coding rules for Reagan saying the challenger would be red, the incumbent blue, to be "fair", then alternate that way going forward. They make up their rules as they go along. Then based on a market research study showing an advantage for blue they changed the rules to always show Republicans red, Democrats blue, to give Democrats a permanent boost. The Gore/Bush recount fiasco, with Bush the "red challenger" solidified that change. Now "red state" means Republican, "blue state" Democrat. The leftist MSM has completed the switch. Outside of America people are confused at the current color scheme. Aren't the reds supposed to be red?