By Brian Lowry

A presidential race between a young Democrat of color from Texas and a maverick Republican from California formed the spine of the final season of “The West Wing.” It’s a once-plausible scenario that with real-life congressional gerrymandering happening, pushes the Emmy-winning drama closer to the realm of science fiction.

The relevance and resonance of the beloved political series, which ran from 1999 to 2006, has, for many, grown during the Trump years. For some, it’s been a refuge from bombastic real-life headlines seemingly emerging daily. For others, it’s an evocation of what we once aspired to, even as its resemblance to reality slips further into the rear-view mirror.