Sarah Palin's 'Take Back the 20' PAC scores a bull's-eye
During the 2010 midterm elections, Sarah Palin went hunting for Democrats and nearly bagged her limit.
"Take Back the 20," Palin's political action committee, targeted 20 congressional districts across the country that John McCain carried in 2008 but had Democratic representatives in Congress.
The results, listed below, are eye-opening. Palin succeeded in 18 of 20 districts, losing in West Virginia's 3rd House District. At this time, the race in Arizona's 8th House District is too close to call.
The 18 Republican winners unseated freshman politicians, congressional veterans and even House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt.
Here is the list of the 20 candidates Palin endorsed and the 2010 midterm results:
Tim Griffin (AR-2): Griffin defeated Joyce Elliott, a Democrat, for the seat being vacated by the outgoing Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR2) 58 percent to 38 percent.
Paul Gosar (AZ-1): Gosar defeated Rep. Joyce Kirkpatrick, the Democratic incumbent, 50 percent to 44 percent.
David Schweikert (AZ-5): Schweikert defeated Rep. Harry Mitchell, the Democratic incumbent, 53 percent to 42 percent. Mitchell had represented Arizona's 5th District for two terms.
Jesse Kelly (AZ-8): As of Thursday afternoon, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Democratic incumbent, holds a one-point lead over Republican challenger Jesse Kelly. In Arizona's 8th District, Kelly and Giffords are separated by just 2,300 votes.
Scott Tipton (CO-3): In the rematch between Rep. John Salazar (D-CO3) and Scott Tipton, the Republican challenger, Tipton defeated the incumbent 50 percent to 46 percent. In 2004, Salazar originally won the seat and defeated Tipton in the 2006 midterm election.
Cory Gardner (CO-4): Freshman Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO4) was defeated by Republican challenger Cory Gardner 53 percent to 41 percent.
Steve Southerland (FL-2): Rep. Allen Boyd, a Democrat, has represented Florida's 2nd District since 1996. On Tuesday, funeral home director Steve Southerland, the Republican challenger, defeated Boyd 54 percent to 41 percent.
Sandy Adams (FL-24): Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, the Democratic incumbent, lost her bid for a second term to Republican challenger Sandy Adams 60 percent to 40 percent.
Larry Bucshon (IN-8): To paraphrase the famous song, Indiana's 8th District wants Republican Larry Bucshon in Congress. Dr. Bucshon defeated Trent Van Haaften 58 percent to 37 percent, replacing outgoing Rep. Brad Ellsworth, a Democrat.
Todd Young (IN9): Republican challenger Todd Young defeated Rep. Baron Hill, the Democratic incumbent, 52 percent to 42 percent.
Rick Berg (ND-AL): In North Dakota's lone, at-large congressional district, Republican challenger Rick Berg defeated Rep. Earl Pomeroy, the nine-term Democratic incumbent.
Jim Renacci (OH-16): Going for his second term, Rep. John Boccieri, the Democratic incumbent, lost his seat in Ohio's 16th District to Republican challenger Jim Renacci 52 percent to 41 percent.
Bill Johnson (OH-6): Republican challenger Bill Johnson defeated Rep. Charlie Wilson, the Democratic incumbent, 50 percent to 45 percent.
Tom Marino (PA-16): Republican challenger Tom Marino defeated Rep. Chris Carney, the incumbent Democrat, in Pennsylvania's 16th District 55 percent to 45 percent.
Mike Kelly (PA-3): Freshman Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, a Democrat, lost her bid for a second term in Pennsylvania's 3rd District to Republican challenger Mike Kelly 56 percent to 44 percent.
Mick Mulvaney (SC-5): House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, a Democrat, lost his re-election bid to Republican challenger to South Carolina state Sen. Mick Mulvaney 55 percent to 45 percent.
Diane Black (TN-6): Replacing the 13-term Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN6), Diane Black, a Republican, defeated Democratic candidate Brett Carter in Tennessee's 6th District 67 percent to 29 percent.
Robert Hurt (VA-5):Rep. Tom Perriello, the Democratic incumbent, lost his bid for a second term to Republican challenger Robert Hunt 51 percent to 47 percent. Hunt will represent Virginia's 5th District in the House of Representatives.
David McKinley (WV-1): With only 1,357 votes separating him from his challenger, Rep. Michael Oliverio, the Democratic incumbent, conceded the race for West Virginia's 1st Congressional District to David McKinley, a Republican.
Spike Maynard (WV-3): Rep. Nick Rahall, the Democratic incumbent, will continue to represent West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District. Rahall defeated Republican challenger Spike Maynard 55 percent to 45 percent.
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