Iowa elected a Democrat whod dropped out of the U.S. midterms, and the internet has jokes

Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable Selects Look Up Say More Trending Now Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Safety Net Mashable @Home In My Bag Versus Creator Playbook Getting Technical with Mashable All Series Iowa elected a Democrat who'd dropped out of the U.S. midterms, and the internet has jokes Eric Armstrong withdrew from campaigning in September, but his name stayed on the ballot -- and Iowa voters elected him anyway. Amanda Yeo is an Assistant Editor at Mashable, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. Based in Australia, she writes about everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets. The 2026 U.S. midterm elections delivered a decisive Democrat victory this week, with a blue wave taking control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It also unexpectedly swept up a Democratic candidate from Iowa who'd dropped out of the race, putting him in office regardless -- and prompting numerous jokes online.