There still isn’t an official winner in Ohio’s special election in the 12th congressional district, but it looks like state Sen. Troy Balderson, the Republican candidate, will eke out a win against Democrat Danny O’Connor. This race was seen as a bellwether, and it’s the last contest before the actual 2018 midterms in November. Should this race have been this competitive? No. Should it have been an easy win? Yes, but a win is a win. Right now, hundreds of votes were found (yeah, I know, right?), but Balderson is still in the lead by a little over 1,500 votes, or 0.8 percent. That’s not enough to trigger a recount and usually the outcome, baring something extraordinary, remains the same. Yet, there could be another reason for the unhinged Left: the Green Party, which I guess is now a vessel of the Kremlin. Actress and Resist activist Alyssa Milano took to Twitter to bash the Green Party saying:
You know what sucks?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 8, 2018
Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling.
Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there’s so much at stake?#OH12
ATTENTION GREEN PARTY THIS is for YOU. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/hKGwyF39lq
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) August 8, 2018
The approximately one thousand people in #OH12 who voted for Green Party candidate Joe Manchik are the actual worst.
— John Block (@JohnBlock1993) August 8, 2018
Tonight’s election in Ohio 12 serves as a reminder that we are not a parliamentary system of government, so votes for the Green Party made by people who believe the Democratic Party is not progressive enough are in effect votes for the Republican candidate.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) August 8, 2018
“You know what sucks? Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling. Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there’s so much at stake?”
This erases 11% of Balderson's lead, but margin still at 1,564 votes. We're still likely on pace for a triple digit Balderson margin when finalized. #OH12 https://t.co/lyXaH7LtDI
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 8, 2018
Okay—enough. Yes, Jill Stein’s recount effort was super annoying and it amounted to nothing, but she’s not some GRU agent, though some liberal heat was hurled her way regarding this whole Trump-Russia non-story. Regarding this race, however, Real Clear Politics’ Sean Trende noted that a lot of third party voters are true to their convictions, and wouldn’t have voted in this race if there wasn’t a third party candidate running. Democrats automatically think that the 1,129 people who voted for Greenie Joe Manchik would have gone to O’Connor. Not the case:
Re the Greens in OH-12, worth remembering not all are O'Connor voters because: (1) A reasonable number of 3rd party voters are sincere, and wouldn't have voted absent the 3rd party and (2) Some really would have voted R. I'd guess 1/2 those votes are taken from O'C.
— Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) August 9, 2018
There’s no way to polish a turd. When you lose, you lose. The Democrats came close, yes—but they still lost. Only total crap talking points about how moral victories matter (they don’t) can soothe the sting of defeat. The Green Party didn’t spoil your chances, Democrats. You just lost…again.
Not-crazy scenario:
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 8, 2018
-- Provisional ballots lower Balderson's margin to a tick below 0.5%
-- Which (if I'm reading the law right) will trigger an automatic recount in Ohio
-- But Balderson wins the recount because recounts rarely reverse results unless it's really *really* close.
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