Republican Rep. Christopher Shays was just six years removed from winning 64% of the vote in his wealthy Connecticut district. He survived two strong challenges from businesswoman Diane Farrell, including one in 2006 by just 11,000 votes, by establishing himself as a brand who superceded party labels. Despite his unpopular support for the war in Iraq -- at last count, he had traveled to the country more times than any other member of Congress -- he was good for his district on economic issues, voting in favor of the bailout legislation in a move that would have been unpopular in most other districts.

But Shays succumbed to activist and businessman Jim Himes by a narrow 51%-48% margin, washing away the last House Republican in the New England. The loss signified not the breadth of the Democratic wave, but the depth, demonstrating that sometimes currents are strong enough even to sweep out well-positioned incumbents. It wasn't as strong in other Obama strongholds like Washington State or even Illinois, where moderate Reps. Dave Reichert and Mark Kirk survived rematches with well-funded challengers to keep their seats an additional two years, but Shays' loss should put a lot of other incumbents, of both parties, on notice.

To be fair, the result was not wholly shocking. Many expected Shays to go down in what is becoming an increasingly liberal district. But Shays' defeat shows that even someone prepared for a tough race who has spent years building his reputation within the district can go down to defeat. Republicans are going to have to re-establish a foothold in the New England before they can seriously challenge for the Speaker's gavel.