Bob Lord

In a year that saw many of his Republican colleagues go down to defeat, U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) not only survived - he beat his challenger by 12 points.

"I think this was a very, very decisive victory," Shadegg told PolitickerAZ.com. "I credit my win to, number one, the people of Arizona and particularly those in the Third District, who know who John Shadegg is."

Shadegg's double-digit victory - larger than those seen by either of Arizona's Democratic representatives who had serious opposition - came in spite of a number of obstacles.

It was a good night for Arizona's incumbent members of Congress, as all three representatives up for re-election are set to be returned to office in January.

Republican challenger David Schweikert came closest to pulling an upset, but not very close. He trailed U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) by a little over nine points with 97 percent of returns in.

At 99 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) had a larger margin over his opponent, Democrat Bob Lord, leading 54 to 42 in the 3rd District.

Tim Bee, president of the Arizona State Senate, had the same deficit against U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R-Tucson) as of midnight, attracting 43 percent to Giffords's 55. However, with only 73 percent of precincts in, it's still possible Bee could pull an upset over the first term 8th District Democrat.

With a little over a third of votes counted, incumbent U.S. Reps. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) and Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) lead their challengers by similar margins.

According to the latest numbers from Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer's office, Shadegg is topping Democratic opponent Bob Lord by a margin of 54 to 42.

Harry Mitchell has a lead of 53 to 44 over Republican David Schweikert.

Here are the Election Night happenings for congressional candidates and Sen. John McCain. 

This post will be updated as events are announced.

JOHN MCCAIN:

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

2400 E. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85016

This is a ticketed event. No one without a ticket will be admitted.

The Pindell Report, Politicker.com's political and campaign forecast, has released its final projections for Election Day. Using polling, historical and demographic trends, tracking campaign visits and spending, The Pindell Report ranks races in terms of their competitiveness and their status as either a toss-up or leaning or likely voting in a particular way.

In Arizona, The Pindell Report's final breakdown is as follows:

U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) took time at a rally for John McCain in Phoenix on Saturday to reassure the crowd he will win his re-election bid against Democratic opponent Bob Lord.

"You've seen me pummeled on the air," said Shadegg before the crowd of around 200 in Desert Storm Park. He told them he's been hit by the Lord campaign on television, radio and in mail pieces.

"Let me step aside from the microphone for a second..." said Shadegg, who then raised up his arms triumphantly and declared, "I'm still alive!" which evoked a cheer.

U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) took time at a rally for John McCain in Phoenix on Saturday to reassure the crowd he will win his re-election bid against Democratic opponent Bob Lord.

"You've seen me pummeled on the air," said Shadegg before the crowd of around 200 in Desert Storm Park. He told them he's been hit by the Lord campaign on television, radio and in mail pieces.

"Let me step aside from the microphone for a second..." said Shadegg, who then raised up his arms triumphantly and declared, "I'm still alive!" and evoking a cheer.

A new poll of likely voters in Arizona's 3rd Congressional District shows U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) with a 10-point lead over challenger Bob Lord, leading the Democrat 50 to 40 percent.

The poll, conducted by Research 2000 on behalf of liberal blog site DailyKos.com and spotted by the Gila Courier, shows a possibly tough road for a Lord victory:

Shadegg has reached the magical 50 percent mark, which means victory unless Lord can eat into his base of support. Undecideds can break all they want to Lord, it doesn't help him. And when both Republican and Independent undecideds are breaking toward Shadegg (albeit by thin margins), it makes the task in a tough district all the tougher.

Records of the Federal Elections Commission show the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has poured roughly $580,000 into the 3rd Congressional District for the last week of the campaign, in a final push to elect Democrat Bob Lord to Congress.

The new ad blitz brings the DCCC's investment in the district to over $2 million, a stunning turnaround from earlier in the campaign, when the DCCC did not expect to devote many, if any, resources to the battle against U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), who is seeking his eighth term in the House.

It is a sign of the times, as anti-Republican sentiment and a well-financed DCCC have combined to open up interest in races once on the low end of competitiveness, such as the 3rd district.

Shadegg decried the "false attacks" the DCCC has launched against him, saying, "The DCCC has spent millions launching false attacks on my character and my principled record. Yet, neither they nor Mr. Lord have spent any money to explain to the people of the Third District what he hopes to do for them if elected."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a new ad in the 3rd Congressional District Monday, attacking incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) for "voting himself nine pay raises" while voting "to deny 82,000 Arizona children health insurance" and against "a combat bonus for our troops" and raising the minimum wage.

These attacks are based on votes Shadegg made against the Childrens Health Insurance program and the minimum wage increase that was the first act of the 109th Congress. Shadegg has said Bob Lord, his Democratic opponent, stretched the truth when Lord also claimed Shadegg voted against a bonus for the troops. The attack is based on Shadegg's vote against a Democratic amendment offered to a supplemental Iraq War spending bill in the October after the 2003 invasion.