After Scott Brown

Massachusetts was the epicenter of a massive political earthquake - the election of a Republican to the US Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy, an iconic Democrat. As the national drama unfolds, the locals are still trying to wrap their heads around the shocking fallout.

“I think it’s unclear to Democrats whether the Scott Brown victory represents a tsunami or an anomaly, ’’ said Philip Johnston, former chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee. “But every Democrat should err on the side of caution and assume there is some serious volatility among the electorate.’’

Before Scott Brown, Democrats were flying high. After Scott Brown, political life seems less secure, even with a friend in the White House.

Before Scott Brown, there was Camelot. After Scott Brown, Rush Limbaugh chortles about “Camelnot.’’

For the first time in 64 years, no Kennedy represents Massachusetts in Washington. With Representative Patrick Kennedy’s announcement that he won’t run for reelection in Rhode Island, the entire New England delegation will be Kennedy-free, too.

Before Scott Brown, Governor Deval Patrick faced some reelection trouble, but could count on a three-way race to eke out a 2010 victory. After Scott Brown, two candidates to Patrick’s ideological left jumped into the race, and will try to nibble away at his liberal base.

Before Scott Brown, Martha Coakley was a popular attorney general with a bright future as a candidate for higher office. After Coakley’s stunning loss to Brown, some Democrats worry she could fall to a Republican challenger for the AG’s seat.

Other statewide offices, especially auditor and treasurer, could also be open to Republican victory for the first time in years.

Before Scott Brown, Democrats had a lock on the Bay State congressional delegation.

After Scott Brown, the national GOP is targeting two Massachusetts districts - the fifth, represented by Niki Tsongas and the 10th, represented by William Delahunt.

“They top our list at this point,’’ said Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, a group that works to elect Republican candidates across the country. The GOP believes Tsongas and Delahunt are vulnerable because they voted for what Mazzola describes as “Nancy Pelosi’s far-left radical agenda.’’

Asked to define “radical,’’ Mazzola cited “a stimulus bill that created more bureaucracy than jobs,’’ health care reform, and a national energy tax. “Radical means a process that is not transparent, spending money with little accountability and spending government money to create jobs,’’ he added.

Delahunt probably won’t run for reelection, denying Republicans a platform to attack him and giving Democrats the chance to field a strong prospect to replace him. But when was that kind of right-wing baiting from a national Republican organization considered a selling point in Massachusetts?

After Scott Brown.

Still, the GOP could be getting too giddy, too soon. Brown’s victory could end up being more an antiestablishment wave of the moment than antiliberalism wave over time. It could be less about ideology and more about rearranging the status quo.

But for now, that brings little comfort to Massachusetts Democrats. After all, they are the status quo.

After Scott Brown, US Representative Edward J. Markey, the dean of the Bay State delegation who typically promotes his involvement in national policy issues, put out word to local bloggers about district office hours he’s holding this week in Woburn and Stoneham.

“Only the paranoid survive,’’ quipped Johnston, Markey’s longtime friend, who cites that as one of the congressman’s favorite lines.

At least one Republican with Massachusetts connections could also be feeling insecure. After Scott Brown, Mitt Romney needs a disturbance on an airplane to make news. Romney garnered headlines when an angry passenger took a swing at him after the former Massachusetts governor asked him to raise his seatback during takeoff.

After Scott Brown, Republicans will try to keep their momentum going. But in Massachusetts, independent voters decide elections. They yield to the political winds of the moment and there are many more moments between now and November.

After Scott Brown, no Democrat should take them for granted.

Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com.