@PodunkPotato @amerika
As far as I know, media colors in USA varied between elections (both flipping and other colors), and at the same election different media selected different colors. I do not remember exactly, but it was as I recall in 1980-1990s that the blue resp red colors were standardized for those two parties.
@amerika @PodunkPotato It settled election 2000. NY Times decided upon it, and the election/result went on for long time, USA Today followed NY Times, and it was settled. Acc to USA-podden latest episode (in Swedish...), but I'm sure there are other sources as well. https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/darfor-har-usa-bara-tva-partier