Yes, but the Democrats do this unusual thing. They actually run candidates that will govern to achieve the agenda of their base. Perhaps when Republicans start running candidates like that, then the base will be motivated to come out to the polls. After years and years of the mantra "hold your nose and pull the lever, at least it won't be a Democrat", they might want to try a new strategy.
This election wasn't just about "candidates."
Several propositions were important. Democrats could have been handed their respective asses. In Texas and Ohio, they were, on some measures. Not so in CA.
The Democrats promise to govern like conservatives to capture the middle, and then they govern to appease their leftist base.
I'm not so sure that's all that different from what the pubs have been doing.
I think part of the reason for the concern is not just the results per se, but that they were lackluster, and everybody knows there is a foul mood out there among the electorate on the right.
To say everything is ok, go back to sleep is not a winning strategy. And I am not saying you are doing this, Marcus, but it is all over the thread.