History is full of strange and surprising events, and among the most curious are leaders who were re-elected after their deaths! In this article, we’ve uncovered the remarkable stories of presidents who, despite passing away, were still chosen by their people to serve again. Intrigued? Let’s explore these bizarre yet fascinating tales from the pages of history! 👇
As a result, when these leaders pass away, people mourn or enter a completely different process. However, history is full of fascinating events, including leaders who were elected to office after their deaths! Let's take a look at who these individuals were.
In the 2020 elections, Anthony DeLuca received 85% of the votes. However, at the time, he had passed away due to cancer. Pennsylvania had a rule that no other candidate could enter the election once ballots were printed, which is why DeLuca remained in the election even though he had died.
Mel Carnahan won the Senate election 38 days after dying in a plane crash alongside his son. Despite defeating then-Senator Josh Ashcroft, Carnahan’s seat was held by his wife Jean until the special election in 2002.
In early 2010, voters in the small town of Tracy City, Tennessee, elected Carl Geary as mayor by a large margin. He won over 70% of the vote, defeating incumbent mayor Barbara Brock. However, Geary couldn’t celebrate his victory, as he had passed away from a heart attack a month before the election.
In 2009, Missouri voters once again delivered a surprising result. The recently deceased mayor of Winfield, Harry Stonebraker, was re-elected for a fourth term with 90% of the vote. According to the NY Daily News, Stonebraker’s popularity seemed to have grown even after his death from a heart attack. He had been widely praised for helping the town recover from a devastating flood a year earlier.
Patsy Mink was a trailblazing politician who represented Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 terms. After serving in President Carter’s administration and working as a member of the Honolulu City Council, she returned to the House in 1990 and remained in office until her death from pneumonia just weeks before the 2002 elections. After her state funeral, Hawaii voters honored her by re-electing her to Congress, although the seat was later filled in a special election.
In the 2010 midterm elections, California State Senator Jenny Oropeza was re-elected despite having passed away from a blood clot two weeks earlier. Even though her illness prevented her from actively campaigning, the incumbent senator secured victory with 58% of the vote compared to her opponent’s 36%.