California candidate who died months ago set to win election: ‘He’s the best guy for the job’

While most mid-term election results have been released, votes are still being counted in some national and local races. In one California race for a board of supervisors seat in Calaveras County, the latest vote count update showed that candidate Bruce Giudici is ahead of his opponent, Clyde Clapp. Giudici spent years trying to win a position on the board; the only thing is, he died in August 2026.

Giudici was out knocking on doors and campaigning on August 30, when he fell and suffered a head injury. He passed away the next day. According to a report from The Union Democrat at the time of his death, Carrie Biggs-Adams, a campaign volunteer, explained, “The brain bleed was too significant to resolve medically, and he passed away early on Monday.”

His unfortunate passing didn’t dissuade voters, though. As Ben Stopper, who held the seat Giudici was seeking and had run against him, said at the time, “I’m still going to vote for him because he’s going to be on the ballot. He’s the best guy for the job, even in this situation, unfortunately.”

Here’s what happens if Giudici officially wins

Recently released unofficial results showed Giudici with 57.09% of the vote versus Clapp’s 42.91%. Approximately 500 votes still need to be counted, and updated results are expected to be posted November 13. If indeed elected, Giudici obviously can’t serve, but that doesn’t mean that Clapp will then get the seat.

Giudici’s campaign began explaining to voters the process that occurs when a deceased candidate is elected only days after his death. As California Govt. Code § 25060 states, “Whenever a vacancy occurs in a board of supervisors, the Governor shall fill the vacancy. The appointee shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor.” Whoever incoming Governor Xavier Becerra appoints is expected to act as interim supervisor through at least March 2028.

Voters have elected deceased candidates before

While it certainly isn’t common, this wouldn’t be the first time voters have elected a candidate who was no longer alive. When former Governor of Missouri Mel Carnahan was running against John Ashcroft in 2000 for a Senate seat, he was killed in a plane crash while on the way to a campaign event. He still won the race. His widow, Jean Carnahan, was appointed to his seat until a special election was held in 2002.

Additionally, in 1972, members of Congress Nick Begich of Alaska and Hale Boggs of Louisiana both won re-election that year after a plane they were on disappeared in Alaska. In January 1973, special elections were called for their seats. Boggs’ wife, Lindy, won the special election for his seat; Begich’s original opponent in the race, Don Young, won his seat.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]