US Election: Candidate Who Died of COVID-19 Wins Legislative Seat

A North Dakota state legislative candidate, David Andahl, who died of Coronavirus in October has been declared winner of the Dakota district in Tuesday’s United States elections.

The Republican candidate who was 55 before his death, was elected alongside Dave Nehring, to represent the 8th district in the state’s House of Representatives.

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Andahl and Nehring both won endorsements from Republican’s and voters’ nominations and defeated one of North Dakota’s most powerful lawmakers, Rep. Jeff Delzer, who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

According to his mother, Pat Andahl, her son died after he was hospitalized following a positive test of the lethal virus for about four days.

Pat said her son was “very careful” about the pandemic and was eager to become an elected official.

“He had a lot of feelings for his county … and wanting to make things better, and his heart was in farming. He wanted things better for farmers and the coal industry,” she said.

The late Andahl won about 35% of the votes to win the seat.