by Jacob T. Levy

Wow. In my original home state of New Hampshire, which was utterly solidly Republican while I was growing up, not only have Democratic challengers defeated Republican incumbents in both U.S. House seats; not only has the State Senate flipped from a 16-8 Republican majority to a 14-10 Democratic majority; but Democrats have won the (400-strong) state House of Representatives ... for the first time since 1911. I never expected to see it. Combined with the defeats of Lincoln Chafee and Nancy Johnson, and the return of a Democrat to the Massachusetts governor's mansion for the first time in 16 years, New England has now consolidated as firmly Democratic (or, as in Bernie Sanders' case, points left), much as in 1994 the South consolidated as solidly Republican.

Support independent journalism

Unlimited access for less than $2 a month

TNR Newsletters.

Must reads. 5 days a week.