Nobody saw this one coming. A political newcomer knocked off the top-ranking Democrat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday night.

Democratic Majority Leader Todd Eachus has been in the Legislature since 1997.

The upset victory by Tarah Toohil is a clear indication that Pennsylvania voters want to see major reform in Harrisburg.

From the Times-Tribune:

In a stunning upset, tea party upstart Tarah Toohil, a Republican, defeated incumbent Todd Eachus in the 116th legislative district Tuesday.

Mr. Eachus, the Democratic House Majority Leader, was first elected representative in 1996 and was campaigning for an eighth term.

Ms. Toohil is an attorney.

Ms. Toohil's victory sent shock waves through Hazleton and the state capital, with many observers predicting the race would be decided by 1 or 2 percentage points. She won by 1,742 votes, according to unofficial results.

"(The Eachus defeat) shows that anti-Harrisburg sentiment is very much alive," said Terry Madonna, pollster at Franklin & Marshall College.

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