Hotline editor Chuck Todd is describing last night’s results as a realignment of the Northeast:

A Category 5 political storm hit the shores of the Northeast on Tuesday, realigning the region from a moderately competitive terrain between the two parties to solidly Democrat. The Northeast for congressional Democrats is now the mirror image of the South for congressional Republicans.

Like any strong storm, the force weakened away from its epicenter. The farther away from the Northeast, the more competitive the GOP performed. But despite hanging tough in other regions around the country, Republicans suffered their worst midterm defeat in a generation.

If true, this has dramatic implications for the nation’s politics — we’re still feeling the aftershocks from the South’s turn toward the GOP.