Buzz
Elections are generally considered solemn affairs, as they involve choosing leaders who will steer the direction of your community or country. However, not everyone approaches them with the same level of seriousness. For instance, Mickey Mouse frequently receives write-in votes in U.S. presidential elections, and filmmaker Michael Moore once humorously attempted to elect a ficus plant to office. While these are clearly jokes, it’s hard to believe that any non-serious candidate could actually win—but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
10. A Surprising Victory for Foot Powder
It’s hard to fathom what the residents of Picoaza, Ecuador, were thinking in 1967 when they cast their votes for mayor. The overwhelming winner? A foot powder named Pulvapies. This bizarre outcome suggests that the voters might have been under the influence of something extraordinary. The product’s victory wasn’t due to a traditional political campaign but rather a clever advertising strategy that somehow convinced the electorate to choose a talcum powder over human candidates.
The company behind Pulvapies launched a campaign slogan during the election season: “Vote for any candidate, but if you want well-being and hygiene, vote for Pulvapies.” It was a playful and somewhat witty marketing ploy, and they likely never imagined anyone would take it seriously. However, they were proven wrong in the most unexpected way. Sadly, with the media of the 1960s preoccupied with covering hippie protests, we may never know whether Pulvapies assumed office or fulfilled its promise of universal hygiene.
9. A Clown Who Couldn’t Read or Write
Politicians are often mocked and labeled as “clowns,” but in Brazil, voters took this literally by electing an actual clown to congress. This wasn’t just any clown—he was illiterate and ran on a platform that essentially said, “I don’t know what congressmen do, but vote for me, and I’ll figure it out.” His campaign heavily relied on the slogan, “It can’t get any worse,” which seemed to resonate with the public.
Believe it or not, that was the entirety of his political agenda. He openly admitted he had no plans to do anything if elected, aside from trying to understand the role of a congressman. Surprisingly, this unconventional approach won over voters, as Grumpy the Clown secured an astonishing 1.3 million votes—more than double his closest rival. Honestly, it’s hard not to feel like we might have voted for Grumpy, too.
8. The Accidental Winner
In a scenario straight out of a movie, a man who had no desire to become mayor of a small Italian village ended up winning the election by a landslide. Fabio Borsatti only entered the race as a favor to his friend, the sole candidate, who feared voter apathy if he ran unopposed. Borsatti’s reluctance was so strong that even his own family didn’t vote for him. Yet, against all odds, he secured 58% of the votes in a town with just 507 residents.
Despite his initial reluctance, Borsatti chose to honor the voters’ decision and serve as mayor rather than resigning and handing the position to his friend. Having never planned for victory, he had no political platform in place, making his early days in office quite challenging. Eventually, he decided to focus on boosting tourism, a goal he inadvertently achieved simply by winning the election, as it brought unexpected attention to the otherwise obscure town.
7. A Rhinoceros
As highlighted earlier with Grumpy the Clown, Brazilian voters have a knack for unconventional choices during elections. This is partly due to mandatory voting laws, which require citizens of a certain age to participate or face penalties like fines. Unsurprisingly, some voters express their discontent by casting unusual votes, which is how Cacareco the rhinoceros ended up receiving over 100,000 votes for city council.
Cacareco, a gentle and beloved rhino from the Sao Paulo Zoo, became the center of a 1959 protest vote. Voters turned out in large numbers to elect her to office, despite city officials attempting to disqualify her candidacy. She outperformed every political party in the election, but officials ultimately nullified the votes and called for a re-vote, ensuring she was no longer on the ballot. Needless to say, the rhino never got the chance to serve.
6. A Dog
In 1981, the quaint town of Sunol, California, held a mayoral election where Bosco Ramos, a local resident, triumphed over two opponents. What made this victory extraordinary was that Bosco Ramos was, in fact, a dog—a black Labrador and Rottweiler mix, to be precise. Already the town’s unofficial mascot, residents found it amusing to elect him as mayor. However, not everyone shared the humor, particularly the editors of China’s The People’s Daily, who took the election seriously.
Failing to recognize the election as a joke, The People’s Daily criticized Sunol’s residents and used the event as propaganda, claiming it demonstrated that Americans equated people with dogs and that democracy was flawed. Bosco passed away in 1994, but his legacy lives on in Sunol through a statue and a restaurant named Bosco’s Bones and Brew. The town even commemorated him with a unique stuffed dog that pees beer, showcasing their playful sense of humor—something The People’s Daily likely disapproved of as well.
5. A Mule
The donkey is the symbol of the American Democratic Party, which makes it ironic that in 1938, a mule named Juancito won the election for Republican precinct committeeman in Milton, Washington. How did this happen? The mule ran unopposed, and the town’s Democratic mayor, who had a sense of humor despite his political role, orchestrated the candidacy as a jab at the Republican Party.
The mule, Boston Curtis, was escorted to the courthouse by Mayor Keith Simmons, who had him sign the necessary paperwork with hoof prints. Simmons acted as the witness for the documents. Beyond poking fun at the Republican Party, Simmons aimed to highlight voters’ lack of awareness about their choices and to expose the deep flaws in the primary system. Mission accomplished, Mayor Simmons.
4. A Goat and a Poodle
Whangamomona, a tiny New Zealand township with a name reminiscent of a 1980s dance craze, was established in 1895. Its population has remained so stagnant that its school and post office closed decades ago. Given its size and lack of formal institutions, it’s no surprise that the residents approach elections with a sense of humor. When Whangamomonans decide not to take something seriously, they go all in.
Starting in 1989, the town began electing a president. The first winner, Ian Kjestrup, was nominated without his knowledge and served for ten years. However, things took a wild turn in 1999 when the townspeople elected Billy Gumboot, a goat, who “won” by eating his competitors’ ballots. Billy passed away in office in 2001 and was succeeded by Tai, a poodle, who retired after an assassination attempt left him traumatized. Since 2005, the president has been Murt “Murtle the Turtle” Kennard, an actual human. While Whangamomona’s politics may be unconventional, its residents sound like the kind of people you’d enjoy sharing a drink with.
3. Deceased Candidates
When choosing candidates, qualities like honesty and integrity are typically prioritized, and, despite the current state of Congress, a heartbeat is usually a requirement. Surprisingly, however, it’s not uncommon for deceased individuals to win elections. In 2009 alone, two men from Florida and Alabama secured victories despite having passed away weeks before the polls opened.
Earl Wood of Florida was 96 years old, so his passing before the election wasn’t entirely unexpected. He hadn’t planned to run again until his rival—yes, a 96-year-old man had a rival—attempted to claim his position as Orange County Tax Collector. Wood won 56 percent of the vote, largely due to name recognition. Similarly, Charles Beasley, a 77-year-old from Alabama, was elected Bibb County Commissioner with 52 percent of the vote after his death. In his case, voters seemed to blindly support anyone from the Republican Party.
This trend continued in 2010 when Jenny Oropeza, a California Senate candidate, died weeks before the election. She still won by a significant margin because her death occurred too close to the ballot deadline for her name to be removed. Critics accused her party of concealing the severity of her illness to force a special election, sparking controversy. California politics, as always, remains anything but dull.
2. Bender (Futurama)
After discussing a cat, it’s only fitting to shift to another internet favorite: Bender from the TV show Futurama. Known for his meme-worthy moments and countless online usernames, Bender achieved a new level of fame in 2012 when he was “elected” to lead the Washington, D.C. School Board. Yes, his popularity knows no bounds.
How did this happen? Unlike other entries on this list, where voters intentionally chose unconventional candidates, this incident involved a group of University of Michigan hackers infiltrating the electronic voting system. They exposed its vulnerabilities during a test run, despite officials’ claims that the system was impenetrable. The challenge to break in was too tempting for the hackers to resist.
If there’s one thing the internet adores more than cats and Bender, it’s proving authority figures wrong when they issue overconfident challenges.
1. A Feline Leader
Cats are often seen as aloof, self-centered creatures who spend their days napping, eating, and occasionally swatting at humans for entertainment. Yet, despite their seemingly indifferent nature, they appear to excel in politics—or at least that’s the conclusion one might draw from Talkeetna, Alaska, where a cat served as mayor for 15 years. The story began when the town’s residents, unimpressed by the human candidates, launched a write-in campaign for Stubbs, a kitten who quickly grew into his role as the town’s beloved leader.
