With the Democrats’ hope for a blue wave receding in the special election for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District earlier this week, celebrities who had supported the Democratic Party’s candidate had taken to social media to trash voters.
GOP state Sen. Troy Balderson’s narrow victory with 1,754 votes giving him the lead, denied Democrats momentum that would have jazzed up their base and helped fill the kitty of dozens of their Democratic Party candidates.
The contest for Ohio’s 12th congressional district was especially tough which drew several celebrities to throw their weight around Democrat Danny O’Connor. Actresses Chelsea Handler and Alyssa Milano and Grammy-winner John Legend publicly endorsed the 30-year-old O’Connor.
This election is tomorrow and every vote matters. OHIO #12 we can flip this district if everyone votes. @dannyoconnor1 https://t.co/RDZfMSsdLf
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) August 6, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, #Ohio12 has a chance to get a real representative, not a Social Security and Medicare-cutting, tariff-supporting Trump rubber stamp. #VoteOConnor#Oconnor4Ohio12
Follow and support @dannyoconnor1 every way you can.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 2, 2018
Today’s the day, #Ohio12! TUNE OUT the GOP machine that’s telling you lies! Think for yourself! #DannyOConnor 2018!!
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) August 7, 2018
?let’s do this!! https://t.co/0hecU5Rfw3
— Laurie Simmons (@SimmonsLaurie) August 7, 2018
Let’s go #Ohio! We are all looking to you! Polls are still open! Grab a buddy and go on the way home! ☔️???#VoteOConnor #OH12 https://t.co/ufBkFbV5XT
— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) August 7, 2018
And when it became clear that O’Connor was not going to win, the accusations of gerrymandering and ‘Russian meddling’ grew loud. Milano, the “Charmed” actress known for giving the #MeToo movement a bigger microphone blamed supporters of Green Party candidate Joe Manchik for Democrat Danny O’Connor’s presumably narrow loss.
Milano took to twitter to fume: “You know what sucks? Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling,” Milano fumed. “Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there’s so much at stake?”
You know what sucks?
Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling.
Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there’s so much at stake?#OH12
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 8, 2018
Manchik won just 1,127 votes in Ohio’s 12th congressional district, which is less than the gap between Balderson and O’Connor. This means that even if all Manchik supporters voted for O’Connor, the Democrat would still be short in the unofficial, final count.
But that did not stop the celebrities from name-calling and labeling the Green Party as an ’embarrassment’.
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
@dannyoconnor1 Dude demand a recount if you can and an outside analysis and audit of voting machines. Do it.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) August 8, 2018
This is an embarrassment https://t.co/ic2AosM40n
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) August 8, 2018
ATTENTION GREEN PARTY THIS is for YOU. ???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/hKGwyF39lq
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) August 8, 2018
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
The Ohio Green Party however vehemently denied that it has split the vote.
There’s no such thing as “splitting the vote.” It’s been proven time and time again that Greens will not vote Democrat and will stay home if there is no Green candidate.
Votes separating O’Conner and Balderson: 1,754
Green Party voters: 1,127#OH12 https://t.co/CDWXXuCUBP
— Ohio Green Party ? (@OhioGreenParty) August 8, 2018