Candidate Who Died of COVID-19 Last Month Elected to State Legislature

The Name Was Left on the Ballot Paper

The late David Andal. Photo by David Andal Facebook capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A Republican candidate in the United States was elected in the North Dakota state legislature election despite having died from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to Politico and other media on the 3rd (local time), the late David Andal, a Republican candidate for the North Dakota state legislature, died on October 5th but his name remained on the ballot, and he won with 35.53% of the vote that night.

In the Bismarck district of North Dakota, two representatives are elected, and on that day, the representatives were decided as David Andal and Dave Nering.

Representative David and fellow Representative Dave, with the support of the Republican Party and voter nominations, defeated Jeff Delzer, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and one of the most powerful legislators in North Dakota.

Earlier in October, David was hospitalized and treated for complications from COVID-19 and passed away at the age of 55.

His family announced on David's Facebook on the 7th of last month that he had died from COVID-19.

After this fact became known, local netizens responded with comments such as "If a candidate died before the election, the vote should not have been held," and "The U.S. election system has collapsed."

David's family announced on the 7th of last month through David's Facebook that he had passed away due to COVID-19. Photo by David Andal Facebook capture.