Election Upsets

The primary defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reminds me of an extraordinary race in Arizona history.

1952. Arizona was still a strongly Democratic state. A young Republican candidate defeated Senate Majority Leader Ernest McFarland, a distinguished and accomplished leader whose major legislative achievement was the G.I. Bill, a source of justifiable pride. McFarland later went on to be elected governor and to serve as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. In short, he was a mega-star in Arizona politics.

But 1952 was a Republican year and while McFarland was tied to the unpopular Truman administration, his GOP challenger could ride on Dwight Eisenhower's coat-tails. The challenger also came from an old Arizona family and was an energetic campaigner. 

His name was Barry Goldwater.

Another twist: The Democrats lost control of the Senate that year and with McFarland's loss needed to elect a new leader. 

Their new Senate Minority Leader came from Texas: Lyndon B. Johnson.