Cantor is just a foot-note exception to the iron rule that in politics, incumbents win nearly 95 percent of the time.
I wouldn’t say “footnote”. There are probably a lot of instances have taken their constituencies for granted and never really listened to them. For a large part, this works when you throw money at the election.
It’s only when the incumbent is so derelict in management of his campaign and assessing his constituency that a chance for an upstart becomes possible. Could have happened in a lot of different times and politicians. However, once accomplished, it steels the no-goods that are left like having seen a wolf steal away with their baby. Scares them silly.
The only other time I recall something near to this is when Tom Daschle got defeated. He’s now the equivalent of a K-street lobbyist.