Team Quest founder and new Affliction signee Matt Lindland (Pictures) survived a tense night Tuesday and weeks of negative campaigning by the opposition to win the Republican nomination for Oregon House District 52. "The Law" defeated Phyllis Thiemann with 59 percent of the vote, 2,917 to 2,057. Lindland was in New York on Wednesday to promote Affliction. After briefly celebrating his nomination, he left for the airport at 5 a.m. without his cell phone and was unavailable for comment.

"We were watching the results early in the evening and he was behind and realized he might lose for the first time," wife Angie Lindland said. Angie is also the de facto manager of Matt's Sportfight promotion. "He is extremely happy, but he will take a break from campaigning to get ready for his fight."

Lindland, a former UFC and Bodog star, will fight Fabio Negao (Pictures) at Affliction: Banned on July 19. He has not fought since losing to Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) on April 14, 2007.

Despite no previous political experience, Lindland was endorsed by The Oregonian newspaper and gained sympathy after Thiemann began running a negative campaign. Thiemann's consultant Elaine Franklin spread rumors that Lindland was a convicted felon - a bald-faced lie. When confronted, Thiemann's camp refused to issue a letter of apology.

Lindland, 36, had been convicted of a misdemeanor for stealing $29.65 worth of groceries... when he was 19.

"We were completely shocked," Angie Lindland said. "Matt was like 'They should have told me the rules from the get-go. I didn't realize this was like a fight.' But we were also very surprised to see how many people came to his defense."

Lindland will face Democrat Susan VanOrman for the open seat in November. Lindland is best known for winning a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Olympics. He earned the nickname "The Law" after suing the Olympic Committee for a spot on the team.