Essay:Greatest Conservative Upsets

Contest	Outcome	Comments
Edward Durr v. Steve Sweeney (NJ 3rd state Senate Dist., Nov. 2021)	The newcomer Republican Durr, a truck driver who spent only $153 on his campaign, defeated the longtime Democrat incumbent Senate president Sweeney.	"Sweeney has served as Senate president since 2010 and was responsible for shepherding Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s progressive agenda through the Legislature, including a phased-in $15 an hour minimum wage, paid sick leave and recreational marijuana legalization."
Roger Jepsen v. Dick Clark, (U.S. Senate seat for Iowa, Nov. 1978)	The pro-life Roger Jepsen upset the prominent incumbent Democratic Senator Dick Clark.	This was a harbinger of the growing influence of the abortion issue on elections, ultimately to the detriment of liberals.
Bobby Fischer v. Boris Spassky (chess world championship, 1972)	Fischer won, 12.5-8.5, despite being late for each match except one.	Called the Match of the Century and the top-rated world chess championship ever, Fischer defeated the communist Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.
Arthur Ashe v. Jimmy Connors (Wimbledon tennis championship, 1975)	Ashe won, 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4	Considered one of the biggest upsets ever in tennis (Connors was favored by more than 6-to-1 odds), Ashe used patriotism to get inside Connors' head and a brilliant intellectual game-plan that threw the arrogant Connors off his stride.
Miracle on Ice (USA vs. USSR ice hockey, 1980 Winter Olympics)	The USA team (made up of college players) defeated what amounted to a semi-professional USSR team 4-3	One of the most notable upsets in all of sports, contrary to popular belief the game did not clinch the gold medal for the USA (they had to defeat Finland 4-2 in the final game).
Rulon Gardner v. Aleksandr Karelin (130 kg Greco-Roman wrestling finals, 2000 Summer Olympics)	Gardner upset the nearly unbeatable Karelin 1-0 in the gold medal match.	Coming into the finals, Karelin had won gold medals in the past three Olympics at this weight class, had not lost a bout in 13 years and had not even given up a point in the last six years. A wrestling move, the Karelin Lift (a gutwrench suplex) was named for him.
George Nethercutt v. Tom Foley (WA 5th Congressional Dist., Nov. 1994)	Nethercutt, who had never ran for political office, upset Foley, the then sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives.	Though Foley's district had become increasingly conservative during his tenure, he had not lost a campaign in 30 years. His defeat was the first for a sitting Speaker since the Civil War era.
Rusty Farley v. Dennis Bailey (OK 1st state Legislature Dist., Nov. 2010)	Farley, a plumbing supply house manager who ran in 2008 but was defeated, raised only $170 during his campaign and spent only $70 of that (for a single newspaper ad), yet defeated the Democrat incumbent in a district where 81% of voters were registered Democrats (Oklahoma requires party registration on voter applications in order to vote in primary elections).	Tragically, Farley would die only six months after taking office; the ensuing special election returned the seat to Democrat hands until 2020 when a Republican once again won election.
Mike Huckabee v. Nate Coulter (AR Lt. Gov. special election, Nov. 1993)	Coming off a close, unsuccessful race for the United States Senate against incumbent Dale Bumpers, Huckabee ran for the open seat (when the then Lieutenant Governor became Governor upon Bill Clinton's accession to the Presidency) and, buoyed by recent name recognition, became only the second Republican to win the office since it was re-created in 1927.	Less than three years later, due to the incumbent Governor resigning after being convicted on fraud charges, Huckabee would become Governor, later winning the two full four-year terms allowed by the Arkansas Constitution, ending with the third-longest tenure of any Arkansas Governor. Huckabee would propel his popularity into two (albeit unsuccessful) runs for President, and then into two television talk shows (first on Fox News and later on TBN).
Briscoe Cain v. Wayne Smith (TX 125th state Legislature Dist., May 2016 GOP Primary runoff)	Political newcomer Cain defeated a seven-term incumbent by a mere 23 votes.	Cain would later go on to author (and see passed) the Texas Heartbeat Act, including its unique (and controversial) private enforcement provision.
Glenn Jacobs v. Brad Anders/Bob Thomas (Knox County, Tennessee Mayor, May 2018 GOP Primary)	Jacobs beat Anders by a mere 17 votes (Thomas finished third, over 2,000 votes behind Jacobs and Anders, only a plurality was required to advance to the general election).	Jacobs (who is more Libertarian than Republican) capitalized on his national popularity (he is better known by his WWE professional wrestling moniker Kane) to pull off the upset.