The outcome of some political races can be fairly obvious even before voters cast their ballots, but even candidates who are all but certain to lose still generally wait until after the polls close to make their concession announcement.
One congressional candidate in Ohio, however, sent out such a statement while voting was still taking place on Tuesday.
According to reports, supporters of Republican Derek Myers’ campaign received an email that included a recorded message from the candidate confirming that he had already lost the race.
“Listen, I’m in my thirties and as I’ve told everyone on this campaign trail, ‘if I don’t win this race, that’s okay!’” the email stated. “I’ve got thirty-or-fifty more years left – and that’s if I live a good life. I’m looking forward to staying in the arena of Ohio politics and working with Republicans to make Ohio great again!”
A follow-up message sent shortly thereafter chalked the initial email up to a “technical issue” on the part of his campaign.
“Please disregard the email,” the second message concluded, going on to repeat the same message in all capital letters.
Myers also addressed the apparent glitch in a social media statement, noting that the campaign had prepared statements to be released whether he won or lost the race.
Two emails were prepared for this evening: one declaring a victory and one conceding the race. The concession email was sent in error as it was being loaded into the media distribution portal, as a draft, in the event of a loss. Accidentally, the “send now” button was clicked…
— Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) March 19, 2024
In response to one comment suggesting that he seemed to be giving up prematurely, the candidate wrote in a post that has since apparently been deleted: “There is also a winning email prepared. Would you like that one, as well?”
Later the same night, he issued another statement, this time officially conceding that he did not come out on top in the crowded GOP primary race.
“In elections there is inevitably a winner and those who go on to fight another day,” Myers wrote. “I don’t view this outcome as a defeat; rather, it’s an enriching experience for which I am genuinely grateful.”
An erroneously distributed concession announcement was not the only Election Day flub for the candidate.
In further explaining the email situation, Myers noted that preparing both victory and concession announcements was common practice on what he called “such an impotent night.”
Later clarifying that he meant to write “important,” he made light of the typo with a reference to the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, who went on to become a spokesperson for Viagra.
“If this whole politics thing doesn’t work out, maybe I can be hired to be a spokesman like Bob Dole?” Myers asked.
