The nightmare scenario for Republicans next month is not simply losing the House, the Senate, or a handful of governorships. Rather, it is watching a bad political climate elect Democrats who survive for multiple cycles.

As bad as the situation facing the GOP looks, however, there is seldom anything permanent in American politics. I have been doing this long enough to remember 2006, which was an absolute disaster for Republicans, and 2008, when former President Barack Obama’s historic victory prompted confident declarations that the party was finished.