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.

Foley Flap Flips Florida District

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.

Corruption, Affairs and Alleged Abuse Undo Republicans

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.

And 10-term Pennsylvania Rep. Curt Weldon was denied re-election, losing to Democratic challenger Joe Sestak, a retired vice admiral.

Weldon's loss came after a corruption investigation involving him and his daughter.

In October, FBI agents raided the homes of Weldon's daughter, Karen, and a close friend as part of an investigation into whether the congressman improperly had helped foreign defense and energy companies.

The companies paid nearly $1 million to a lobbying company run by Karen Weldon and Weldon's close friend, local Republican Party boss Charles P. Sexton Jr.

Hammer Drops on GOP in Texas

In President Bush's home state of Texas, Democrat Nick Lampson won the House seat long held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, beating Republican write-in candidate Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

Lampson's victory marks the first time a Democrat has represented the district in more than 20 years.

DeLay, a Republican icon, resigned from his seat in June as he faced a felony money-laundering charge over campaign fundraising in Austin and questions over his ties to Abramoff.

Lampson said he believed voters had sent a message with their choice -- that they were tired of the scandals and lack of focus on the issues that were important to them.

"I believe that it's about the people," he said. "They took it back. They sent a message. It wasn't about me. They want integrity. They want solutions to complex problems, and they want an end to all this partisanship."