diff --git a/packages/follower-livedata/.gitignore b/packages/follower-livedata/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..677a6fc263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/follower-livedata/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.build*
diff --git a/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js b/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd979c5547
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+Follower = {
+
+  connect: function (urlSet) {
+    if (typeof urlSet === 'string') {
+      urlSet = _.map(urlSet.split(','), function (url) {return url.trim();});
+    }
+    var electorTries = {};
+    // start each elector as untried/assumed connectable.
+    _.each(urlSet, function (url) {
+      electorTries[url] = 0;
+    });
+    var tryingUrl = null;
+    var conn = null;
+    var leader = null;
+    var connected = null;
+    var intervalHandle = null;
+
+    var findFewestTries = function () {
+      var min = 10000;
+      var minElector = null;
+      _.each(electorTries, function (tries, elector) {
+        if (tries < min) {
+          min = tries;
+          minElector = elector;
+        }
+      });
+      return minElector;
+    };
+
+    var updateElectorate = function (res) {
+      leader = res.leader;
+      _.each(electorTries, function (state, elector) {
+        if (!_.contains(res.electorate, elector)) {
+          delete electorTries[elector];
+        }
+      });
+      _.each(res.electorate, function (elector) {
+        if (typeof electorTries[elector] === 'undefined') {
+          electorTries[elector] = 0; // we haven't heard of this elector yet.
+        }
+      });
+    };
+
+    var tryElector = function (url) {
+      url = url || findFewestTries();
+      if (conn) {
+        conn._reconnectImpl({
+          url: url
+        });
+      } else {
+        conn = DDP.connect(url);
+        conn._reconnectImpl = conn.reconnect;
+      }
+
+      if (tryingUrl) {
+        electorTries[tryingUrl]++;
+      } else {
+        tryingUrl = url;
+        conn.call('getElectorate', function (err, res) {
+          connected = tryingUrl;
+          tryingUrl = null;
+          if (err) {
+            electorTries[url]++;
+            return;
+          }
+          // we got an answer!  Connected!
+          electorTries[url] = 0;
+          if (res.leader === url) {
+            // we're good.
+
+          } else {
+            // let's connect to the leader anyway, if we think it
+            // is connectable.
+            if (electorTries[res.leader] == 0) {
+              tryElector(res.leader);
+
+            } else {
+              // XXX: leader is probably down, we're probably going to elect
+              // soon.  Wait for the next round.
+            }
+
+          }
+          updateElectorate(res);
+        });
+      };
+    };
+
+    tryElector();
+
+
+    var monitorConnection = function () {
+      return Meteor.setInterval(function () {
+        if (conn.status().status !== 'connected' || connected !== leader) {
+          tryElector();
+        } else {
+          conn.call('getElectorate', function (err, res) {
+            if (err) {
+              electorTries[connected]++;
+              tryElector();
+            } else {
+              updateElectorate(res);
+            }
+          });
+        }
+      }, 5*1000); // every 5 seconds
+    };
+
+    intervalHandle = monitorConnection();
+
+
+    var prevDisconnect = conn.disconnect;
+    conn.disconnect = function () {
+      if (intervalHandle)
+        Meteor.clearInterval(intervalHandle);
+      intervalHandle = null;
+      prevDisconnect.apply(conn);
+    };
+
+    conn.reconnect = function () {
+      if (!intervalHandle)
+        intervalHandle = monitorConnection();
+      conn._reconnectImpl.apply(conn, arguments);
+    };
+
+    return conn;
+
+  }
+};
diff --git a/packages/follower-livedata/package.js b/packages/follower-livedata/package.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d890785b06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/follower-livedata/package.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Package.describe({
+  summary: "Maintain a connection to the leader of an election set"
+});
+
+Package.on_use(function (api) {
+  api.use(['underscore', 'livedata', 'ejson']);
+  api.add_files(['follower.js'], 'server');
+  api.export('Follower');
+});