Voters Oust GOP From the 'Scandal Seats'

Nov. 8, 2006 — -- Lewd, sexual conversations with teenagers. Extramarital affairs. Alleged domestic abuse and money laundering.

In the already traditionally harried campaign season, some Republican candidates have been busier than usual defending themselves against high-profile scandals that, beyond tarnishing the party's credibility, have led to the ultimate loss: control of the House of Representatives.

In what were considered GOP strongholds, Republicans in scandal-plagued districts consistently lost to their challengers on the other side of the aisle.

While the Senate remains up for grabs, ABC News projects that by the time all the votes are counted, Democrats will have taken control of the House of Representatives, picking up somewhere between 28 seats and 36 seats.

In Florida, Republicans lost the seat held for 12 years by disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley.

Foley resigned Sept. 29 after ABC News questioned him about sexually explicit online messages he had sent to current and former congressional pages under the age of 18.

Democratic political newcomer Tom Mahoney defeated State Rep. Joe Negron, the Republican who ran in Foley's place. In order to vote for Negron, voters had to check Foley's name.

In his victory speech, Mahoney called Negron a "class act," as both indicated they would work together to win back the confidence of Floridians who had been disillusioned by the Foley scandal.

"I've been a long shot. I've been the challenge, and then I was the leader," Mahoney said. "I will work across party lines to deliver the results for the people of Florida."

"I'm proud I stepped in and ran a five-week campaign for a congressman who stepped down in disgrace," Negron said.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, Democrat Zack Space defeated Republican State Sen. Joy Padgett in the traditionally safe GOP district of disgraced former Rep. Bob Ney.

Ney pleaded guilty to corruption charges in the scandal involving convicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff last month, and resigned from his seat last week -- a post that Republicans had held for 30 years.

Investigations into allegations of corruption, extramarital affairs, and domestic abuse took their toll on Republicans attempting to hold seats in New York and Pennsylvania.

Rep. John Sweeney was upset in New York by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, days after reports that he had roughed up his wife -- an allegation she denied.

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Don Sherwood lost to Democrat Chris Carney, a former Pentagon intelligence analyst, despite apologizing to voters for a long-term affair with a much younger woman.