The shock waves from last week's historic Republican gains in the Statehouse continue to reverberate throughout Vermont's political landscape, ushering in new power dynamics in Montpelier that are certain to influence how lawmakers tackle issues from education spending to climate change. Frustrated by soaring property taxes and the rising cost of living, voters embraced Republican calls to help them break the Democratic supermajority's grip on power in the Statehouse. "Vermont Republicans campaigned on affordability for Vermonters and more balance in the Legislature. Vermonters delivered," House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) said in a statement. The results exceeded even the Vermont GOP's most optimistic projections. Republicans picked up 18 seats in the 150-member House and six out of 30 in the Senate. They snapped up open seats, booted first-term lawmakers and even ousted incumbent Democrats previously considered safe. Veterans such as Sen. Chris Bray (D-Addison) and Sen. Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) were both defeated by relatively unknown opponents who enjoyed the backing of a newly supportive Gov. Phil Scott. "It was good to have the governor and the party working together in a way that I haven't seen in the 10 years that I've been involved," Vermont GOP chair Paul Dame said last week. Members of the House leadership team weren't immune from the onslaught. Rep. Mike McCarthy (D-St. Albans), chair of the Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, and Diane Lanpher (D-Vergennes), chair of the Appropriations Committee, both lost their seats. Come January, instead of 105 seats in the House, Democrats will have 87, plus four Progressives who typically vote with them. And in the Senate, Democratic seats will decline from 22 to 16, plus a Progressive member. The rout shattered Democrats' hold on power in the Statehouse and will fundamentally reshape how policies are crafted. It could influence who is selected for leadership roles, as well. Dems who squeaked by this time around seem to have gotten the message. "I'm personally hitting the reset button on everything," said Rep. Matt Birong (D-Vergennes), who was reelected by fewer than 20 votes. Republicans, who've toiled in the minority since the mid-1980s, reveled in their rebound from legislative obscurity. McCoy stressed that hers will still be the minority party when lawmakers return in January, but she also expects change. Without the ability to override the governor's vetoes on their own, Democrats will need to work more closely with her party and…