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New York's 23rd Congressional District borders on Canada. It has elected Republicans since the times of the late Rutherford B. Hayes and has attracted scant national attention during that glad span. This year its special election made headlines.

The rumpus started when Barack Obama named John McHugh, the 23rd's Republican incumbent, to serve as secretary of the Army. The move created an open seat. Republican sachems nominated Dede Scozzafava, a state legislator with a record that crossed the line separating moderate from liberal. Democrats nominated Bill Owens, an earnest businessman. The Conservative Party -- a New York fixture for many decades -- nominated Douglas Hoffman.

Although the GOP national establishment at first endorsed Scozzafava, so-called movement conservatives rallied to Hoffman, whom they described, with considerable justification, as the real Republican in the race. Hoffman ripped Scozzafava for taking Democratic positions on a variety of issues, gathered support from inside the district and from without (he apparently does not live in the constituency, but residence seemingly offends the right only when the candidate calls herself Hillary), and raised far more money than Scozzafava. Owens smiled throughout it all.

Polls showed a Hoffman surge. Shortly before the election, Scozzafava withdrew and threw her support to Owens. Hoffman became the de facto GOP nominee. The party apparatus rallied to him. The campaign included interventions from Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh. The Entertainer issued one of his trademark pronouncements as the vote drew near. The whole thing proved the greatest show since Ziegfeld.

Conservatives anticipated victory. The electronic trading boards that treat elections as market exchanges indicated a Hoffman win. It was not to be. Owens prevailed. A red seat switched to blue. The peculiar circumstances resist meaningful analysis. The best we have heard suggests that both Scozzafava and Hoffman were the wrong fit. The only clear point is this: A district with a GOP pedigree elected a Democrat.

Despite the Upstate follies, this year New York Republicans actually heard some encouraging news. They gained in Gotham's suburbs. Republicans, including conservatives, once prospered within sight of Manhattan's skyline, we kid you not. The Republican Party included heavyweights. The Conservative Party of New York welcomed happy warriors. We were Tories once, and young.