Minuteman Founder Loses Election That Highlighted Immigration Issue

Third party candidate Jim Gilcrest and founder of the Minutemen Project lost a congressional election which highlighted the issue of immigration as a hot button issue.


John Campbell, 50, a former car dealer from Irvine, Calif., and current state Senator won the election.

He emerged from a five-person field in Tuesday's runoff election with 45 percent of the vote. Democrat Steve Young had 28 percent, and third-party challenger Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project border patrol group, was third with 25 percent of the vote.

Gilchrist's candidacy and strong showing drew national attention to the race and underscored how the hot button issue of illegal immigration can energize conservative voters.

Despite the loss by Gilchrist, we can all look to this race as the beginning of a trend that will sweep America this election cycle.

The story.