Third times a charm House candidates

[MargieCat]

Have many twice failed House candidates won a house seat on their third try?

One I can think of is Mariannette Miller Meeks. I believe for her the forth time was actually the charm. But she did not run every single cycle.

For Democrats, Christy Smith got the nomination three times and the seat failed to flip. Although it very well may have flipped this cycle with Whitesides.

I'd like to see Will Rollins and Tony Vargas possibly try again in 2026. But for both of those it would be a third run.

Does anyone have examples of any besides MMM who got the nomination a third time (or in her case 4th) and had a different result.

At a certain point, the primary would become harder if they have lost twice.

[Talleyrand]

Collin Peterson won his seat on his 4th consecutive try and went on to hold it for 15 terms until he lost in 2020.

[Tekken_Guy]

Have many twice failed House candidates won a house seat on their third try?

One I can think of is Mariannette Miller Meeks. I believe for her the forth time was actually the charm. But she did not run every single cycle.

For Democrats, Christy Smith got the nomination three times and the seat failed to flip. Although it very well may have flipped this cycle with Whitesides.

I'd like to see Will Rollins and Tony Vargas possibly try again in 2026. But for both of those it would be a third run.

Does anyone have examples of any besides MMM who got the nomination a third time (or in her case 4th) and had a different result.

At a certain point, the primary would become harder if they have lost twice.

Adam Frisch could also run again. Though he could also run for statewide office.

[Cowboys for Christ]

I don't think Tony Vargas will run a third time, unless Bacon retires.

[Atlas Force]

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

[Rhode Islander First, American Second]

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

IIRC she only won the Jan 2022 special election primary by 4 votes or something and her campaign was basically "elect me to Congress and I will give you free money" lol

She seems kinda shady, I wouldn't be surprised to see her end up in prison on corruption charges one day.

[Steve from Lambeth]

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

IIRC she only won the Jan 2022 special election primary by 4 votes or something and her campaign was basically "elect me to Congress and I will give you free money" lol

She seems kinda shady, I wouldn't be surprised to see her end up in prison on corruption charges one day.

Also, she ran unopposed in this year's general so I'm not entirely sure she's an appropriate nominee for this thread

[Zedonathin2020]

Tony Vargas maybe?? sure he lost this year but that was because of Kamala Harris flopping in the district.

[Schumer can go f*** himself!]

Juan Vargas, Lou Barletta, and Mark Takano

[Joe Kakistocracy]

Danny Tarkanian has still never won an election to Congress, but at least he finally won something, even if he had to carpetbag to another corner of the state to do so.

2004 NV State Senate: lost
2006 NV Secretary of State: lost
2010 US Senate: lost
2012 US House, NV-4: lost
2016 US House, NV-3: lost
2018 US House, NV-3: lost
2020 Douglas County Commission: won
2022 US House, NV-2: lost
2024 Douglas County Commission: won

It's hilarious that of the two cycles he skipped, 2014 could have given him the best opportunity to win something.  He could have run in NV-4 again, likely would have beaten Crescent Hardy in the primary, and then won the general as Hardy did.

[PALiberal]

Danny Tarkanian has still never won an election to Congress, but at least he finally won something, even if he had to carpetbag to another corner of the state to do so.

2004 NV State Senate: lost
2006 NV Secretary of State: lost
2010 US Senate: lost
2012 US House, NV-4: lost
2016 US House, NV-3: lost
2018 US House, NV-3: lost
2020 Douglas County Commission: won
2022 US House, NV-2: lost
2024 Douglas County Commission: won

It's hilarious that of the two cycles he skipped, 2014 could have given him the best opportunity to win something.  He could have run in NV-4 again, likely would have beaten Crescent Hardy in the primary, and then won the general as Hardy did.

That is a crazy track record. And while this does not fit under the thread exactly, there is a person with an even crazier one. Terry Carpenter of Nebraska who switched political parties 5 times and ran for the following offices:

Mayor of Scottsbluff in 1931
Democratic nomination for governor in 1934
United States Senate in 1936
Lieutenant governor in 1938
Governor in 1940
Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 1942
United States Senate in 1948
Democratic nomination for governor in 1950
Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 1954
Republican nomination for governor in 1960
United States Senate in 1972
Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1974

He did however, become a longtime member of the Nebraska legislature, and was for a single term, a US Congressman. So, if you feel like giving up or are unmotivated lately, then look no further than this man to inspire you.

[Miles]

Technically Collin Peterson was elected on his fourth try for MN-7, but only his third try as the DFL nominee (he ran every cycle from 1984 to 1990, but lost the primary in 1988).

[Steve from Lambeth]

Technically Collin Peterson was elected on his fourth try for MN-7, but only his third try as the DFL nominee (he ran every cycle from 1984 to 1990, but lost the primary in 1988).

Bizarrely grateful to be in the same thread as the erstwhile J. Miles Coleman. Unfortunately for you, Peterson was mentioned by Talleyrand right at the top of the page

If David Valadao ever gets picked off, we can technically add him to the list - he'll have won all his elections except for 2018 and whenever, even though he's been around for a long time

[Miles]

Technically Collin Peterson was elected on his fourth try for MN-7, but only his third try as the DFL nominee (he ran every cycle from 1984 to 1990, but lost the primary in 1988).

Bizarrely grateful to be in the same thread as the erstwhile J. Miles Coleman. Unfortunately for you, Peterson was mentioned by Talleyrand right at the top of the page

Ah thanks!

Older example, but Dave Treen was another one who soldiered on until he won. After running in 1962 and 1964, he almost knocked off Hale Boggs in 1968. Finally won LA-3 as an open seat in 1972 (he also lost the gov race earlier that year).

[Mr. Smith]

Tony Vargas maybe?? sure he lost this year but that was because of Kamala Harris flopping in the district.

Harris won the district. Literally was the trade for the Nevada in any otherwise 2016-ey map.

[Zedonathin2020]

Tony Vargas maybe?? sure he lost this year but that was because of Kamala Harris flopping in the district.

Harris won the district. Literally was the trade for the Nevada in any otherwise 2016-ey map.

Yes I know she won Nebraska 2, but she underperformed Biden's performance in 2020