Defending democracy against an authoritarian challenge may require political priorities that are fundamentally different from the standard playbook for winning elections. In particular, the best way to strengthen a nation's democratic political system may be to ensure that it is firmly rooted in local politics throughout the nation.

Under the American system of constitutional democracy, a party can win control of a legislative chamber with a majority of votes in just over half of the districts, so parties tend to focus their resources on the districts that seem closest to flipping. Within any district, a party's efforts to increase voter turnout are best concentrated in the areas where most voters are favorable to the party.

Such incentives have brought America to a political equilibrium

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