US Election Turns Sour After Winner And Runner Up Die, Leaving Behind Only One Surviving Candidate

Republicans in Unicoi County were deciding who to nominate for property appraiser. There were three candidates, but two were dead. They passed away before the election.

"We never had a candidate die during the election let alone two," County Election Administrator Sarah Bailey said.

Wayne Peterson got 560 votes. He died of cancer Feb. 16, while early voting was taking place.

Margaret Shelton Seward did better. She got the most votes -- 1,570 -- but passed away just after midnight on the day of the election, apparently of a massive heart attack.

"Nobody could've imagined that Margaret Seward would suddenly, in her young age, would suddenly die," Unicoi County Republican Party chairman Jim Buchanan said.

The only living candidate was Alan "Rocky" McInturff. He got 1,116 votes but cannot be declared the winner.

News 5 WCYB’s Maggie Smolka learned poll workers could only confirm if Seward and Peterson were deceased if a voter asked. However, all three names legally had to stay on the ballot.

"Once the state sets the ballot, it's that no matter what, there's nothing you can do," Buchanan said.

Looking forward, it's up to the Unicoi County Republican Party to choose a nominee that will be on the ballot in the August general election.

They will meet after the election has been certified on March 17 to discuss the next steps in this unusual case.