Sure, it's another notch on Sarah Palin's endorsement belt, but Flake was one of the few House Republicans to call out the drunken spenders of his own party during the early Bush years. He rejected the leadership's claim the budget was, in Tom DeLay's infamous statement, fat free. Jeff Flake also wanted to offset the borrowing for Katrina relief but the leadership wouldn't even allow it to come up for debate. On fiscal issues, he'll make a welcome addition to the U.S. Senate.
Palin-endorsed Paul Gosar won in District 4; her choice in District 5, Kirk Adams, did not succeed against the incumbent Republican.
Going two for three isn't bad.
Kirk Adams lost to Matt Salmon in District 5, and Salmon was not the incumbent. This was an open seat because of redistricting.