The parts of the body, though many, are one, we hear in this Sunday's reading option from 1 Corinthians. Primary elections in several states this Tuesday demonstrated that the body politic is deeply divided. Insiders were turned out, suggesting potential political upheaval for incumbents this fall.

Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, despite endorsements from President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, saw his 30-year career in the U.S. Senate come to an abrupt end at the hands of Rep. Joe Sestal.

In Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell failed in his home state to crown Secretary of State Trey Grayson the GOP Senate nominee in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Bunning. Grayson fell by a double-digit margin to Rand Paul, a political neophyte, Tea Party favorite, and son of libertarian Ron Paul.

In Arkansas, moderate Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln failed to beat back a challenge from the liberal wing of her party and will face Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in an unpredictable primary runoff in several weeks.

Although poles apart ideologically, Sestak and Paul both struck anti-Washington themes in their victory statements Tuesday night. "This is what democracy looks like," Sestak said to a crowd of cheering supporters. "A win for the people, over the establishment, over the status quo, even over Washington, D.C."

"I have a message, a message from the tea party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words," Paul said at his victory rally. "We've come to take our government back."

Source: Articles by Mark Preston for CNN, Jeff Zeley and Carl Hulse for the New York Times,
and Michael Scherer for TIME