Republicans scored an upset victory in a special election seen as a referendum on President Barack Obama’s economic policies, winning the congressional seat held by a Democrat who resigned in a sex texting scandal.
Voter frustration over the sour economy and Obama’s policies helped Republican political novice, Bob Turner, score an upset victory in a special election Tuesday over David Weprin, a Democratic assemblyman from a prominent local political family.
The surprising results portend a perilous national environment for Obama as he prepares to seek re-election next year. Turner said as much when he stepped before cameras to claim victory on Tuesday night.
“This message will resound for a full year. It will resound into 2012,” said Turner, a retired broadcasting executive. “I only hope our voices are heard, and we can start putting things right again.”
Also Tuesday, Republican Mark Amodei won a landslide victory in a US House special election in Nevada, an important presidential swing state.