Speed Bump on the Road to the Takeover

In the fight for California's 50th Congressional district Democrats had:

• A disgraced Republican Congressman in prison.
  
• That nifty "The Culture of Corruption"™ chant.
  
• Got the word out illegal aliens didn't need papers to vote.
• An unpoplular Republican President and Congress

What could have gone wrong?
Oh yeah, an election happened. That's where most Democrat dreams go to die.