We’re heading for an extremely contentious election for the midterms. It is likely to turn out to be the most expensive non-presidential election cycle in history. Both the House and the Senate hang in the balance and Republicans have a war chest overflowing with cash that they are willing to dole out hand over fist in hopes of retaining Congress and advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda.
In state elections across the country, there are countless highly interesting elections that could turn the fate of both parties. Look no further than the otherwise innocuous race for the Texas Railroad Commission (which doesn’t regulate railroads by the way) for one that is getting intense national coverage after Bo French’s many viral comments.
Perhaps no other race will be more interesting than this gem that I stumbled across today: the race for the 93rd seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
TN-93 State House race has NO candidates on the ballot, winner will be a write-in.
— Mill (@Mill226) September 28, 2026
The incumbent Democrat was the only person to run, but he only submitted 24 valid signatures (he needed 25 to get on the ballot), and then he died. From @ballot_access: pic.twitter.com/55fCO1CVL2
As it turns out, not a single candidate will appear on the ballot for the race. No single candidate even qualified to appear on the ballot. Only one candidate, the Democrat incumbent G. A. Hardaway, filed to run in the election, but he only managed to acquire 24 of the 25 required signatures to appear on the ballot.
Then he died.
The entire election will be decided through a write-in campaign. In the modern era of politics, that’s nearly impossible to believe. This isn’t some low level county office or a tiny city council, or even a municipal race in a podunk town in the middle of nowhere. This is a race for a state legislature seat. More than 70,000 people live in the district…and it’s gonna be decided purely on a write-in campaign.
It’s hard not to be romantic about politics when absolutely wacky things like this are still able to happen.
