 McCain won the highly contested primary election on September 7, 1982, getting 32 percent of the vote compared to Russell's 26 percent, Mack's 22 percent, and Carlson-West's 20 percent.Two months later, he would win the general election in the heavily Republican district, defeating Democrat William E. Hergarty by a 66 percent to 31 percent margin.McCain made an immediate impression in Congress.