You wouldn’t think a corruption scandal in San Diego’s South Bay could have repercussions 700 miles to our east in El Paso, TX.

However, the same night Mitt Romney clinched the GOP nomination, 8-term Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes was denied a return pass to Congress — despite recent high-profile endorsements and events hosted by former President Clinton, and President Obama.

Former El Paso City Councilman Beto O’Rourke defeated the embattled Reyes by less than 3,000 votes.

Why does this matter? The Sweetwater connection.