With his district merged with that of Bobbi Fiedler due to redistricting, Goldwater ran for the Republican nomination to the United States Senate in 1982. Goldwater lost that race to San Diego mayor and future Governor Pete Wilson due to what Goldwater labeled "partisan mudslinging" which linked his name to a congressional drug-use scandal in which Goldwater was ultimately found to be uninvolved. During that time Goldwater did seek help from a treatment center in Wickenburg, Arizona for an admitted drinking problem which he overcame. His term in office expired in January 1983.