Olivia Wilde's Mother, Leslie Cockburn, Lost Midterm Election to 'Devotee of Bigfoot Erotica'

Actor Olivia Wilde's mother, Leslie Cockburn, lost the race for Virginia's 5th Congressional District on Tuesday. Cockburn, a Democrat, fell behind Republican candidate Denver Riggleman, whom Cockburn once called a "devotee of Bigfoot erotica."

Riggleman secured 53 percent of the vote in while Cockburn managed to win nearly 47 percent, according to The Associated Press.

Cockburn, an award-winning journalist, shook up the campaign trail over the summer when she accused Riggleman of associating with a white supremacist and being a fetishizer of Bigfoot erotica. Riggleman had previously written a book surrounding the myth of Bigfoot titled Bigfoot Exterminators, Inc.: The Partially Cautionary, Mostly True Tale of Monster Hunt 2006.

"My opponent Denver Riggleman, running mate of Corey Stewart, was caught on camera campaigning with a white supremacist," Cockburn tweeted last July. "Now he has been exposed as a devotee of Bigfoot erotica. This is not what we need on Capitol Hill."

In addition to the claims, Cockburn also shared a screenshot of Riggleman's face Photoshopped onto a drawing of Bigfoot, which was initially posted on her opponent's Instagram page. "From my opponent Denver Riggleman's Bigfoot erotica collection," she wrote.

Riggleman had proclaimed himself to be a Bigfoot aficionado in the past, however, he denied Cockburn's "absurd" claims that he had a sexual interest in the monster during a July interview with CNN.

Wilde supported her mother's campaign every step of the way. Before results were in she posted a sweet message to her mom along with a photo of them hugging. "As we wait for the votes to come in, I just want to say I'm proud of you and I love you. Thanks for showing us what's possible. No matter what happens you changed my world and healed my heart," she wrote on Instagram Tuesday.

Following Cockburn's loss, Wilde posted on Instagram once again. "My incredible mother speaking to her supporters, thanking them for their tireless work, and urging them all to stay determined. We may have lost this fight, but it's only made us more resolute," Wilde wrote.

She continued: "It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. A lot of progress was made tonight and we need to keep the blue wave rolling! I'm sending all my love to everyone who worked on this campaign. You restored my faith in this country."