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Has Anyone Ever Won an Election as a Write-In Candidate?

Yes! In 2010, Alaska voters reelected U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through a write-in campaign. Democracy, now with a spelling test.

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Lisa Murkowski lost Alaska's 2010 Republican Senate primary to Joe Miller. That would usually be the end of the story, but she launched a write-in campaign for the general election instead.

Voters had to write her name on the ballot rather than tick a printed candidate's name. The campaign even handed out spelling reminders, because “Murkowski” is not exactly a name you can bluff your way through.

She won, becoming the first U.S. senator elected by write-in votes since Strom Thurmond did it in South Carolina in 1954. A rather spectacular comeback for someone whose name wasn't on the printed candidate list.

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