Republican county commissioner has been unseated in Michigan after losing to her Democratic challenger by 20 percentage points.

Chris Kleinjans won an Ottawa County election on Tuesday with 60 percent of the vote share, while the Republican incumbent Lucy Ebel lost, having received 40 percent.

Michigan is a battleground state that will be key to November’s presidential election. Donald Trump won the county with 61 percent of the vote in 2020.

  • Leviathan@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    A democrat won by 20 points in Michigan?? I’m pretty staunchly leftist and I think that deserves a quick recount.

    Edit: this was very much a joke, you guys are understandably passionate but civility is still appreciated.

    • Tyfud@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      That’s not how recounts work. It has to be close, and this wasn’t even close. Recounts address a margin of error. What you’re doing is dog whistling voter fraud, and I very, very seriously doubt you’re actually a staunch leftist.

      You’re just a bad actor trying to give the illusion that our voting system shouldn’t be trusted.

      Well.

      You can fuck right off.

        • Tyfud@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Ah, fair enough, fair enough.

          Yeah, you got me then. I missed the /s in there. It’s been a long, long 8 years, so my patience has run thin for people who aren’t just making a joke.

          Appreciate you clarifying. Cheers! :)

    • pyre@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      i don’t think miscounting can account for a 20 point difference. recounts make sense for close elections.

      • Leviathan@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I was really just kidding and poking fun at the calls for recounts republicans always make. I really don’t believe a 20 point margin can be the result of a miscount. Sarcasm is difficult to convey via text. I’ll leave it, though, I’m a good sport.

        • pyre@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          oh ok, while I missed the intent I’m glad I avoided assuming malice at least.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      A county commissioner was defeated in a low-turnout out-of-cycle election by 20-pts.

      • Chris Kleinjans 2502 votes (60%)
      • Lucy Ebel (incumbent) 1665 votes (40%)

      By contrast, in 2020, Ottawa County voted

      • Biden 64,705 38.4%
      • Trump 100,913 59.8%

      So, a huge reversal. But in an election in which only 2% of Republican Presidential regulars turned out relative to 3.8% of Democrats.

      I absolutely would not use this as a bell weather for the 2024 election.

      • Leviathan@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I was kidding and poking fun at republicans always demanding recounts. I’m actually quite happy and surprised a dem won. I truly don’t actually want a recount.

      • JonEFive@midwest.social
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        8 months ago

        But then how are news sources going to make otherwise mundane events sound noteworthy?

        BTW, 100% of person making this reply voted Democrat, therefore everyone in the country will also vote democrat.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          But then how are news sources going to make otherwise mundane events sound noteworthy?

          Flipping the county is absolutely noteworthy, both because it was a recall election and because it flipped parties. Might want to fixate on the actual policy changes promised by the incoming administration, rather than the pure horse-race aspect of an election that’s six months off.

          BTW, 100% of person making this reply voted Democrat, therefore everyone in the country will also vote democrat.

          Unless they’re betrayed by the Fifth Columnist Trump-Loving Idiot Leftist College Muslims Who Hate America, of course.