The machine isn't against the incumbent, it wants to move things to the right. This is why Obama gets mainstream media outrage for superficial things like wearing a tan suit. Also it is why Biden (correctly) got a lot of negative coverage for being too old to serve but people like Trump or Kay Ivey relatively get a pass.
The right also had incumbent disadvantage this year. See:
- Britain's Tory defeat.
- India's and Hungary's main party still winning, but by less than expected. India's main party no longer holds a majority in Parliament.
- In South Korea, the liberal opposition has won the majority of seats in the National Assembly.
Even in developing countries, incumbent disadvantage is almost everywhere. Look at the map in https://abcnews.go.com/538/democrats-incumbent-parties-lost-.... And in a couple examples where the majority gained (Mexico, Dominican Republic, Moldova) they are the left.
