News

Watch Senate Candidate Learn She's Lost On Live TV

by Chris Tognotti

On Tuesday night, Fox News viewers saw South Dakota Senate candidate Annette Bosworth learn she'd lost her race on national television. The news was broken to her on The Kelly File, by Megyn Kelly, and yeah, it was awkward. But that's nothing compared to what's unfolded Wednesday — Bosworth has been charged with six counts of perjury, and six counts of filing a false or forged document, according to the Argus Leader.

Despite whatever political differences you might've had with Bosworth, a Republican candidate in deep-red South Dakota, it was hard not to feel sympathy for her Tuesday night, when she learned on live television that all that time, effort and money had failed. As Kelly introduced the segment, saying "I want to start with the breaking news from the Associated Press..." you could nearly see the understanding of what was coming click in Bosworth's mind.

An instant later, Kelly delivered the bad news: "... that you have lost your race; that former South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has prevailed in the GOP primary."

Even though Bosworth had to expect she'd lose — she was a distant runner-up and finished around five percent — that's still a jarring moment. As the reality settled in, Bosworth told Kelly:

Well, that’s news to me. I didn’t know that. I found out on national television.

Didn't think it could get any worse? Well, a day later, she was facing criminal charges. Bosworth's campaign had been marred by concerns and allegations of wrongdoing: In early April, a challenge was filed that Bosworth had turned in fraudulent nominating petitions to the South Dakota Secretary of State. She's not alone in facing legal trouble in the aftermath of her loss, either — independent candidate Clayton Walker is also facing perjury and false filing charges.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has said the charges against both candidates were "serious, deliberate and must be addressed in order to preserve the integrity of our elections." Bosworth, for her part, excoriated Jackley in April, criticizing his investigation as an attempt to derail her candidacy, and a "blatant manipulation."

In any event, Bosworth turned herself in Wednesday afternoon, after Jackley issued the warrants against herself and Walker. Must've been the worst couple of days she's had in a while...