Ben Quayle's Congressional Career Halted After One Term

Ben Quayle (left) with David Schweikert (right)

U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle (R-AZ) lost his bid for re-election to U.S. Rep. David Schweikert after the two were thrown together in the same district as a result of redistricting. Schweikert was leading Quayle 53%-47% when Quayle called Schweikert to concede. The race has been negative from the beginning. Schweikert repeatedly raised questions about Quayle's fitness for the job, reminding voters that he had once written racy columns for an adult-oriented blog, "Dirty Scottsdale," using the handle "Brock Landers." In one direct mail piece, Schweikert was accused of inferring that Quayle was bisexual because he "goes both ways" on the issues. Quayle fired back, calling Schweikert a "professional politician" and "professional liar." Quayle's fate may have been sealed when it was revealed last week that he was among a group of freshman congressional Republicans who went for a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee during which U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS) swam nude while on a congressional trip to the Middle East last August.