Americans Elect Two Dead Politicians

“Florida Democrat Earl K. Wood and Alabama Republican Charles Beasley” have a good amount on in common now. They “both won their respective elections but…will not take office” considering that both passed away before the vote was even taken in their races.

Democrat Wood passed away form natural causes at the age 96 weeks before the general election. Wood was seeking re-election in his office, Orange County Tax Collector, but had decided to step down after criticism was levied against him. He decided to run for re-election when he learned that a past political adversary had entered the race. Even though he passed away, he still won the general election after winning 56% of the vote. 

Republican Beasley passed away from what is likely an aneurysm. He ran for re-election “on the Bibb County Commission in central Alabama.” He won a little more than half of the vote. 

See Barbara Liston and Verna Gates, Dead Candidates Win Elections in Florida, Alabama, Reuters, Nov. 7, 2012.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for bringing this article to my attention.