The razor-thin margin between Republican Troy Balderson and Democrat Danny O’Connor in the special election in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District drove the Green Party to the top of Twitter’s trending topics late Tuesday.
Comedian Kathy Griffin was just one of the social media service’s users who criticized Green Party voters in the formerly safe Republican district, which saw Balderson leading O’Connor by less than 1,800 votes late Tuesday. Green Party candidate Joe Manchik garnered 1,120 votes.
Green Party voters..no one is saying you can’t vote for your candidates….but don’t tell me you care about the environment if you know your vote will make the difference between a Dem winning over a Rep and you still choose to vote for your candidate who has NO chance of winning
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 8, 2018
Other voices chimed in, noting that a vote for the Green Party in the heavily-contested district, which President Trump and Vice President Pence visited late in the race to campaign on behalf of Balderson, was a vote for Republicans.
Tonight’s election in Ohio 12 serves as a reminder that we are not a parliamentary system of government, so votes for the Green Party made by people who believe the Democratic Party is not progressive enough are in effect votes for the Republican candidate.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) August 8, 2018
Gonna lose it if the Green Party costs Democrats #OH12. If you want a third party, fine, but the Green Party is never ever gonna happen. The only thing it ever accomplishes is helping to elect Republicans.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) August 8, 2018
Emotions were clearly running high in the wake of the too-close-to-call race for former Rep. Pat Tiberi’s seat, as watchers from across the country weighed in on the tight Ohio contest. The race was widely viewed as a bellwether for Democrats’ chances in the November midterm elections.
Dear Green Party: Can you PLEASE wait to make your symbolic votes at a time when our government isn’t being overrun by white supremacists??? Come @ me I don’t care.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 8, 2018
I’m just going to assume Green Party voters are conservatives who can’t bring themselves to vote Republican because that is only possible explanation after 18 months of Trump Admin wreaking havoc on everything. No way those are conscientious progressives.#OH12
— Charlotte Clymer?️? (@cmclymer) August 8, 2018
Though President Trump congratulated Balderson on his presumed victory, O’Connor did not concede Tuesday. Democrats in the district, some suggested, may not be too pleased with the neighbors who cast their ballots for third party candidate Manchik.
If you’re a liberal in #OH12 and voted for the Green party candidate, you may not be receiving a Christmas card from your Democratic friends this year.
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) August 8, 2018
