Changes

In 1972, McDonald unsuccessfully ran for Congress.<ref name="Killing"/> He ran again in 1974, facing Democrat incumbent John W. Davis in the primary.<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald emphasized school integration programs during his campaign, which he strongly opposed and which his opponent supported.<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald won the primary and faced Republican J. Quincy Collins Jr., who was an Air Force POW during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald narrowly won the election and took office on January 3, 1975.<ref name="Killing"/> He would go on to win his re-election campaigns with wide margins.<ref name="Killing"/>

In 1972, McDonald unsuccessfully ran for Congress.<ref name="Killing"/> He ran again in 1974, facing Democrat incumbent John W. Davis in the primary.<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald emphasized school integration programs during his campaign, which he strongly opposed and which his opponent supported.<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald won the primary and faced Republican J. Quincy Collins Jr., who was an Air Force POW during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="Killing"/> McDonald narrowly won the election and took office on January 3, 1975.<ref name="Killing"/> He would go on to win his re-election campaigns with wide margins.<ref name="Killing"/>

Even though McDonald was a Democrat, he was very conservative, being even more conservative than many, if not most, Republicans.<ref name="Killing"/> He received a perfect score of 100 from the [[American Conservative Union]] every year expect 1978, when he received a 95.<ref name="Killing"/> In addition, he received high ratings from other conservative organizations including the [[National Right to Life Committee]], [[Gun Owners of America]], and the [[American Security Council]].<ref name="Killing"/> In fact, in a survey done by the ''American Journal of Political Science'', McDonald was rated as the second most conservative member of either chamber of Congress between 1937 and 2002, only behind [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Poole|first=Keith T.|title=Is John Kerry a Liberal?|date=2004-10-13|url=http://voteview.com/Is_John_Kerry_A_Liberal.htm|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref>

Even though McDonald was a Democrat, he was very conservative, being even more conservative than many, if not most, Republicans.<ref name="Killing"/> He received a perfect score of 100 from the [[American Conservative Union]] every year expect 1978, when he received a 95.<ref name="Killing"/> In addition, he received high ratings from other conservative organizations including the [[National Right to Life Committee]], [[Gun Owners of America]], and the [[American Security Council]].<ref name="Killing"/> In fact, in a survey done by the ''American Journal of Political Science'', McDonald was rated as the second most conservative member of either the U.S. House or Senate between 1937 and 2002, only behind [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Poole|first=Keith T.|title=Is John Kerry a Liberal?|date=2004-10-13|url=http://voteview.com/Is_John_Kerry_A_Liberal.htm|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref>

McDonald was so conservative that in 1978 the 7th District Democratic Committee (the district he represented) "voted 10-8-1 in favor of a resolution that would censure McDonald 'for the dishonorable and despicable act of calling himself a Democrat.'"<ref name="Killing"/> Various reasons for this was McDonald's membership in the John Birch Society, his refusal to support [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential candidacy, not believing that there were implied powers in the [[Constitution]], and allegedly using "misleading advertisements during his campaigns."<ref name="Killing"/>

McDonald was so conservative that in 1978 the 7th District Democratic Committee (the district he represented) "voted 10-8-1 in favor of a resolution that would censure McDonald 'for the dishonorable and despicable act of calling himself a Democrat.'"<ref name="Killing"/> Various reasons for this was McDonald's membership in the John Birch Society, his refusal to support [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential candidacy, not believing that there were implied powers in the [[Constitution]], and allegedly using "misleading advertisements during his campaigns."<ref name="Killing"/>