05.11.2026 01:10
A rare election victory occurred in the US midterm elections. Democratic candidate Eric Armstrong, who suspended his election campaign in September due to health problems in the state of Iowa, won the race he entered because his name remained on the ballot and entered the state House of Representatives. Although he did not run an active campaign, Armstrong, who defeated his Republican rival by a wide margin, emerged victorious from the polls with 55.2% of the vote.
In the midterm elections held in the US, the result from the state of Iowa revealed an unusual election story. Democrat Eric Armstrong, who dropped his election work weeks earlier due to health problems, emerged victorious from the polls despite not running an active campaign.
Armstrong, who ran in Iowa's 20th electoral district, was elected to the state House of Representatives after leaving Republican rival Keith Jones behind. The fact that Armstrong had announced in September that he was suspending his campaign made the result even more noteworthy.
HE SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN DUE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS
In a statement in September, Armstrong announced that he had decided to withdraw from election work due to personal health problems. The Democratic candidate, who stated at the time that his district deserved a representative who could continue the election race with full energy, said he could not continue his campaign.
However, Armstrong's suspension of his election campaign did not mean that his candidacy had officially ended. Armstrong, whose name remained on the ballot, thus continued to be one of the candidates for whom voters could cast a vote.
HIS NAME REMAINED ON THE BALLOT, AND HE WON THE ELECTION
When the polls opened on Election Day, Armstrong's name was on the ballot. After the vote count, it was announced that the Democratic candidate received 55.2 percent of the vote, while his Republican rival Keith Jones remained at 44.8 percent.
Thus Armstrong, who did not conduct an active election campaign, emerged victorious from the race. The result also highlighted the difference between suspending one's campaign and formally withdrawing from candidacy.
HE SAID HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS CONTINUED
In a statement after winning the election, Armstrong said he would do his best to represent the people of the district in the best possible way. However, the Democratic politician, noting that his health problems continued, said he was still struggling with this process.
In a statement to The New York Times, Armstrong said he would do more than his best to represent his people, but that his health problems continued.