Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford gives his victory speech after wining back his old congressional seat in the state's 1st District on Tuesday, in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Sanford won against Elizabeth Colbert Busch, a Charleston, S.C., businesswoman and first-time candidate, in the special election on Tuesday. (Rainier Ehrhardt/AP)

House race: Mark Sanford win crushes Democrats' hope of red-state toehold

9:29 am ET -

Democrats spent $1 million to elect Elizabeth Colbert Busch in true-red South Carolina. But Republican Mark Sanford won handily with a message of fiscal restraint, despite ethical and moral lapses while governor.

House (View all)

More House

Rep. Charles Rangel defies demographics, censure to win tough primary

Rep. Charles Rangel, an icon in Harlem, called on more than 40 years of a storied history – including bringing home the bacon as former chairman of a powerful House committee – to win a Democratic primary that all but assures victory in November.
Is today's Democratic primary the last hurrah for Rep. Charles Rangel?

Charles Rangel has a storied past in Harlem and the US House of Representatives, where he has served 21 terms. But ethics violations, censure, and redistricting could take a toll in Tuesday's primary.
Ron Barber's win in Arizona House race a lift for dispirited Democrats

Voters in former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' House district elected Ron Barber, the retired congresswoman's aide, to serve out her term. Barber defeated a tea-party-backed candidate in a district where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.
Arizona special election: About Gabrielle Giffords or President Obama? (+video)

The special election Tuesday to fill the House seat vacated by shooting victim Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is overshadowed by the memory of the tragedy, but the Republican has tried to make it about Obama's policies.
In Election 2012, how much is the House in play? Three sides to the story.

Steve Israel outlines his scenario for the Democrats winning back the House. Pete Sessions says the GOP could actually increase its hold. Analysts say the reality is somewhere in between.
Joe the Plumber goes to Congress? Why he's a huge underdog.

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, on Tuesday won the GOP primary for Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District. His next step is to square off against Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
Dennis Kucinich out: Left loses a combative, cheerful voice in Congress

Former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich lost in the Democratic primary Tuesday to Rep. Marcy Kaptur after their Ohio districts were merged by a Republican redistricting plan.
David Dreier to leave Congress: Is California losing its clout?

Some worry that David Dreier's retirement means reduced clout for California on Capitol Hill. But others say an anti-pork atmosphere in Washington means their concerns are overblown.
Election 2012: Can the Democrats retake control of the House?

Congressman Steve Israel says a net gain of 25 seats – what Democrats need to win back control of the House in Election 2012 – is 'in range.' The key, he says, is independents.
'Joe the Plumber' and Herman Cain: A match made on cloud 9-9-9?

'Joe the Plumber' (a.k.a. Samuel Wurzelbacher), who is running for Congress, will campaign with Herman Cain. But the antitax everyman might be two years too late.