The very first red/blue maps that came out had the GOP in blue. The dems got the MSM to switch it.
More appropriate the early way, one associates red with da CCCP, Komrade.
I believe, before 2000, they alternated red and blue for Democrats and Republicans on the results maps. Since the "red states vs. blue states" war began, I don't think we'll ever see Red as anything but GOP and Blue as anything but Dims.