Pennsylvania Representative Anthony “Tony” DeLuca took 85% of the vote, a landslide victory, during the midterm elections on Tuesday. He won over Green Party candidate Queonia “Zarah” Livingston. 

Unfortunately, he will not be able to claim his seat as DeLuca reportedly passed away on October 9 due to lymphoma. DeLuca died at 85, leaving four children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. 

According to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, DeLuca’s death has caused them sadness, but they are proud of the people’s trust in him and how they decided to continuously re-elect him for office. DeLuca, who held a seat since 1983, is known to be Pennsylvania’s longest-running representative.

Due to what happened, several people have called the election a fraud. According to one tweet, “You can’t make this up, America’s elections are a hot mess.” 

According to reports, due to the timing of his death, his name was not removed from the ballot. It also was not replaced by another candidate. According to state laws, names of replacement candidates may only be submitted before commencing ballot printing.

Spokesperson Amie Downs said, “The state has an election calendar that outlines dates for withdrawals, substitutions, etc, and all of those dates had passed when the Representative died,” and that it has already happened before. In 2018, a Republican, who died a month before the elections, also won a seat in Nevada.

A special election is scheduled in December to determine who will be elected to the position. 

DeLuca has once again proved that he is a winner. Even in the afterlife.