Long past time. Won’t happen now, either.Everyone worries about the short term consequences. Short term the Democrats will win elections. Short term if the party membership stays the same, the Democrats will win elections, either as labeled Democrats or as labeled Republicans. Conservative candidates will continue to become Republican-labeled Democrats within hours of their taking their seats in DC.
You can still VOTE Republican if you want to.
Besides, the Democrats are winning them ANYWAY. Remember Romney? Remember McCain? Remember Scott Brown?