Here Are Eight Bad People Who Lost on Election Day

The midterm results are in, and it’s time to deal with the consequences. Democrats didn’t have as many victories as they hoped, but at least they’ve taken back the House, and there are small victories out there, though for many of us, waiting for those results to pour in was harrowing. To ease your weary soul, we’ve put together a list of candidates we’re so, so glad didn’t win.

Kris Kobach, Kansas

Kris Kobach lost the gubernatorial race in Kansas against Laura Kelly on Election Night. He’s here primarily because of his acts of voter suppression, though. Famously, Kobach put a law into action that blocked over 12 percent of Kansas’ population from voting between 2013 and 2016 by requiring voters to present proof of citizenship before being able to register. Where did his inspiration for the law come from? Rumors about Somalis and Muslims at the polls, of course. Thankfully, that made it easy for the ACLU to step in with a lawsuit and put the issue to bed. Had Kobach won the governor’s mansion last night, Kansas would’ve almost certainly seen even more half-witted attempts to force minorities away from ballot boxes.

Russell Walker, North Carolina

The man who’s said, “God is a racist and a white supremacist,” lost his House race to Democrat Garland Pierce. He’s also theorized that all “Jews descend from Satan.” Potentially even more unsettling is the fact that he garnered any votes at all, let alone 37 percent. Russell Walker may actually be rethinking his “God is racist” belief soon, though, considering his opponent is a black minister.

Arthur Jones, Illinois

Arthur Jones gathered up a meager 27 percent of votes in his race, and the first line of his Wikipedia entry says he’s a Neo-Nazi, which should be all you need to know. He was up for Congressman in Illinois, but voters were likely turned off when they reached his campaign website and saw the page titled “Holocaust?” In a post on his personal blog—the post on his personal blog, rather—he also seems to allude to the fact that Heather Heyer’s death was an accident, spurned by “Black thugs.” Good riddance, Art.

John Fitzgerald, California

Fans of Neo-Nazi podcasts might recognize this name. John Fitzgerald has reportedly made the rounds on a few different podcasts to tell listeners to be on the lookout for “Jewish Supremacism,” and that the Holocaust was “a lie.” The New York Times points to a session with Andrew Carrington Hitchcock, who openly supports Hitler. Even the GOP was scared when Fitzgerald won his primary.

Dana Rohrbacher, California

Described as Putin’s favorite congressman, Dana Rohrbacher has held onto his seat relentlessly for 30 years. No longer. Harley Rouda defeated him by less than a point on Election Night, putting a stop to Rohrbacher’s homophobic and pro-Russia rhetoric. Rohrbacher’s claim to fame is his argument that homeowners should be able to refuse potential LGBTQ+ buyers. Politico also reports that he’s directly helped cover up Putin’s corruption and secret assassinations in Russia. Ex-Republican Rouda doesn’t have to do much to be better than Putin’s sleeper agent.

Seth Grossman, New Jersey

Seth Grossman, who’s Jewish himself, is in a predicament. In the wake of anti-Semitic attacks on his people, when most would advocate for gun legislation, Grossman tells Jews they must take advantage of their Second Amendment rights and arm themselves against their enemies, the Democrats. The NRCC even pulled its support for Grossman’s campaign after it was revealed that he shared a Facebook post saying black people are “a threat” to anyone they come across. In response, he said he should’ve read the article (good call), but that it was still relevant at the time. Yikes.

Corey Stewart, Virginia

Herald of the chant “take back our heritage,” Corey Stewart lost the Senate race in Virginia Tuesday night. In front of a crowd of other men who looked eerily similar to himself, Stewart declared his love for confederate general Robert E. Lee. Unsurprisingly, his volunteers have included white nationalists and he’s refused to distance himself from Charlottesville protest organizer and Jason Kessler, despite being the last of the Republicans dying on that hill. Stewart is a diehard confederate who, thankfully, won’t be setting foot in the Senate anytime soon.

Scott Walker, Wisconsin

Finally we come to Scott Walker, who hates not only minorities, but also all poor people. He’d probably say something like, “I don’t see color,” when confronted about his views on union dispersal or public education. Governor of Wisconsin since 2011, Walker’s frequently been pointed to as the cause for large amounts of student debt. His state’s been ranked in the top ten worst for graduates with debt. He’s appointed openly homophobic judges and even taken money from lobbyists for legalized marijuana, only to turn around and suggest that the impoverished should be drug tested. And now, by the slimmest of margins, he’s gone.

Maybe the blue wave wasn’t as loud or as overwhelming as we would’ve hoped—but at least none of the above are in office.