Candidate Wins Wrong Primary

[Pangloss]

I'm not sure how much discussion value this really has, but I loved the story and thought you all might enjoy it as well. Basically DC Mayor Tom Felty lost the Democratic primary. But in a strange twist of fate, enough Republican voters actually wrote in his name to cause him to win the Republican primary. The GOP didn't actually field a candidate, and the total number of write-ins wasn't huge, but even so it's a pretty unusual event and perhaps an interesting example of bipartisan appeal.

 

He's declined the GOP nom, which he apparently is not legally able to accept anyway, but he did issue this grateful acknowledgement to the write-in voters:

 

Today's news of the Republican nomination is a recognition of the great progress this city has seen over the last four years. While I am humbled by the nomination, I will not accept it. I believe the best days of the District of Columbia lay ahead, and I will work with Chairman Gray, the Democratic nominee, to ensure that the progress continues and this belief is realized.

 

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/dc-mayor-fenty-wins-republican-primary-as-write-in-091710

[Sisyphus]

Heh, and he won with 822 votes. No, not by 822 votes, with 822 votes. In DC, the Democratic primary is the only election that matters.

[Moontanman]

Still it's interesting and funny....

[Mr Skeptic]

That's pretty funny. Maybe if he had switched to Republican so that he could accept their nomination, he might have won the actual election?