Republicans and Democrats don't seem to have learned when to 'rebrand'

The GOP candidate for Maryland governor was a QAnon adherent who organized bus rides to what became the Jan. 6 riots in the U.S. Capitol. His running mate was a relative unknown who made a name for herself opposing an anti-racism movement.

They were the normal ones. The GOP candidate for attorney general considered himself a “true Confederate,” and thought “Dixie” was preferable to our National Anthem.

Most Republicans, when yearning for a return to the ’50s, are talking about the 1950s, but not here.

Last week, looking to right the ship, the state central committee elected new leadership, as some attendees who were supporters of GOP lieutenant governor candidate Gordana Schifanelli reportedly pounded on tables and walked out.

Schifanelli said her running mate, Dan Cox, had thrown “infantile” tantrums blaming her for the loss, and accused the party of unfairly scuttling her candidacy for GOP chair. Finally she washed her hands of the whole thing, saying she was going off to watch soccer — where, presumably, the hooligans at least know what they want.

Pity Nicole Beus Harris, the new GOP chair whose job it is to fix all this. She said the party needs a “complete rebranding.” Prior to the Coxian demolition derby, the GOP brand was good enough to hold the governor’s mansion for the past eight years, but OK.

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And it might have been four more, had Republicans nominated Kelly Schulz, an experienced and non-incendiary conservative who was the choice of outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan. A strong GOP candidate would very likely have also elevated Neil Parrot to Congress. Parrott lost by a whisker in a newly drawn district that was more Republican-friendly than the old one.

This too is a touchy subject for Republicans, who are currently before the Supreme Court promoting a backdoor attempt to allow states to gerrymander at will.

They might be more careful what they wish for. Consider that deep red Texas has already contorted its districts to amplify every last Republican vote. There are no more GOP districts to be had, no matter what the court rules. Meanwhile, out in fruit and nut land, the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission draws the lines, and other liberal states have also tried different methods to make redistricting more fair.

These states, given the green light to rig the system at will, could probably create another two dozen Democrat-leaning congressional districts without even trying. The current arrangement is greatly weighted in Republicans’ favor — and Republicans want to blow it up.

Anymore, shooting itself in the foot is just another day at the office for a GOP, where the crazies are no longer the tail that wags the dog, they are the dog. This dog complains about RINOs and the Republican establishment, but it’s the establishment that knows how to win general elections. Unfortunately for the establishment, it is the red-meat crowd that knows how to win primaries.

Following a dismal midterm performance by MAGA candidates, the establishment (or what’s left of it) has pronounced itself ready to move on from Donald Trump, whose fortunes have wobbled badly over the past six weeks. They all have one foot out the door, no one wanting to be the last one left in the room with him when it all comes crashing down.

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Even Elise Stefanik, arguably the greatest Trump groupie of all, voted for the Marriage Protection Act, a very slight shift in the wind that indicates an awareness that she, as with Maryland Republicans, may also be in need of a “rebranding” in the not too distant future.

Trouble is, while the GOP politicians, elites and establishment all want to move on, no one has yet asked Trump voters what they think. These voters, while in the minority nationally, are the heroin to which the Republican Party is addicted. Being hooked on anger and hate is no way to realize your potential. But if you cut them loose, you will be in for some dark, painful days before you recover.

Democrats should rejoice that their greatest headache at the moment is Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who is hoping her newfound independence will prevent her from being primaried. With approval ratings even worse than Joe Biden’s, she’s hoping Democrats will refrain from running a candidate at the risk of splitting the left-leaning vote and losing the seat.

With an eye to what’s happening in the GOP, Democrats should not take the bait. A Senate seat is a small price to pay for surgically removing a self-absorbed flake from office who is only going to create more problems down the road.

Not that Sinema is any Trump, but the parallels are evident. Their respective parties would be wise to cut them both loose and let the great rebranding begin.

Tim Rowland is a Herald-Mail columnist.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: GOP, Dems should ditch Trump and Sinema