(CNN) -- Back in 1994, when Newt Gingrich led the GOP to take over the House, it was historic. A sea change. An earthquake. Why? Because Democrats had held control of the House for the previous 40 years. As in four decades. Imagine that. Hard to believe it ever worked that way. Now voters demand change elections more often than they don't. Consider this: Republicans win the Senate in 2002, then lose it in 2006. The Democrats hold the Senate until losing control of it last night -- predictions are that they might be in a good position to take it back in two years.
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Gloria Borger: Voters are much less patient with politicians than in the past
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They want a government that will act effectively to solve problems
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She says strategists saw Democrats lose ground in polls after Obama's ISIS strategy comment
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Borger: Uncertainty over Ebola response also hurt the Democrats
The reason these races went down to the wire -- until the tidal wave became obvious when Democrats couldn't elect governors in blue states -- is that the voters didn't like either the @placeholder or the Republicans.
But in this election, the @placeholder had a fresher playbook -- talking to suburban women worried about health care, with a good pack of candidates, and an improved political operation.