Iowa elected a Democrat whod dropped out of the U.S. midterms, and the internet has jokes
The 2026 U.S. midterm elections delivered an unexpected Democrat win in Iowa, as Eric Armstrong won despite dropping out in September.
In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, a Democrat from Iowa made history by being elected despite dropping out of the race earlier. Eric Armstrong, the Democratic nominee for Iowa House District 20, suspended his campaign in September due to health issues. However, after the deadline for nominees to withdraw passed, Armstrong's name remained on the ballot when voters went to the polls on November 3.
Astonishingly, Armstrong defeated his Republican opponent Keith Jones with 55.2% of the vote, retaining the seat for Democrats. The unexpected outcome has led to humorous online jokes about Iowa voters being particularly demanding bosses. Armstrong, who still faces health challenges, has stated his intention to serve, focusing on expanding pre-K childcare access, closing the minimum wage gap, and improving benefits for educators.
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