On Thursday, the state of Alabama certified Democrat Doug Jones’ victory over Republican Roy Moore in the 2017 U.S. Senate race. While Jones won by nearly 22,000 votes, nearly 23,000 voters chose a write-in candidate.
Since the number of write-ins was larger than the margin of victory, the write-in votes proved rather significant. Thousands of voters wrote in acting Senator Luther Strange (R-Ala.), and slightly fewer chose write-in candidate Lee Busby. Nick Saban, the University of Alabama football coach, received a great many votes, although Strange and Busby (along with Rep. Mo Brooks and Senate candidate Ron Bishop) beat him by a great deal.
Without further ado, here are the 50 strangest names written in to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate.
1. Jesus Christ
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock
Son of God, savior of the world, and senator from the Great State of Alabama? Jesus Christ received at least 18 votes (“Jesus is the answer” got 1).
2. Phil Robertson
Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” speaks during a Ted Cruz campaign event at Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City, Iowa, on Jan. 31, 2016. (Dennis Van Tine/MediaPunch/IPX)
Phil Robertson, the professional hunter, businessman, and reality television star known for A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty, received at least 36 votes. A resident of Louisiana, he would have been ineligible to serve in the U.S. Senate from Alabama.
3. Clint Eastwood
Image via Wikipedia
Famous actor and official member of the Libertarian Party Clint Eastwood received at least 3 votes.
4. Sam Houston
Image Via Shutterstock — Why Texas will always be American.
Sam Houston, Texas’ military hero and the only governor from a future Confederate state to oppose secession, received at least one vote in Alabama. He died in 1863…
5. Mickey Mouse
A Christmas bauble with a Mickey Mouse design hanging on a fir branch during the pre-opening of the new Disney Store in Munich, Germany. Photo by: Ursula D’ren/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
The lovable Disney mouse got at least 10 votes.
6. Tim Tebow
Image Via Shutterstock
Professional baseball outfielder and famous former football quarterback Tim Tebow got at least one vote in the Alabama Senate race.
7. Thomas Jefferson
Image via Wikipedia
America’s third president and the author of the Declaration of Independence also got a vote in the Alabama Senate race. He died in 1826.
8. Ben Carson
Image Via Shutterstock, Benjamin S. Carson.
Former Republican presidential candidate and current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Benjamin Carson also received a vote.
9. Harambe
Harambe, the gorilla who passed away at the Cincinnati Zoo last May, received one vote in the Alabama Senate race.
10. The Ghost of Stonewall Jackson
Civil War Re-Enactment, image via Shutterstock.
The ghost of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson received a vote. He died in the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863.
11. God Almighty
At least one voter chose “God Almighty.” No word as to why he (or she) did not join in the votes for Jesus Christ. Another voter wrote in “God,” as opposed to “God Almighty.”
12. Santa Claus
(Getty Images)
The lovable Christmas hero Santa Claus received at least two votes in Alabama, from boys and girls desperately competing to be on the “good” list. “Santa” and “Santa Claus” each received a vote.
13. Donald Trump
(Rex Features via AP Images)
The president received at least three votes of confidence (four if “Donald” counts for him) from the people of Alabama. Either that, or Alabama voters were secretly encouraging Donald Trump to step into the U.S. Senate and allow Mike Pence to become president…
14. Vermin Supreme
YouTube screenshot of Vermin Supreme talking about ponies and Melania Trump at the RNC.
Speaking of presidential candidates — successful or otherwise — presidential candidate Vermin Supreme (who runs on a platform of free ponies every four years) received at least one vote in the Alabama Senate race. Alabamans want a senator with a boot on his head.
15. John Doe
John Doe received two votes — more than Ben Carson and Tim Tebow!
16. Matthew McConaughey
Actor Matthew McConaughey poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film ‘Gold’, in London. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)
“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) actor Matthew McConaughey took at least one vote in the Alabama Senate election. He was born and lives in Texas, but perhaps if he goes “Interstellar” (2014), he could make an exception and represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate.
17. Ben Affleck
The Argo promotional poster.
Actor Ben Affleck, perhaps best known for his role as Batman in “Justice League” (2017), also received a vote in the Alabama Senate race. Gotham, or perhaps in this case, Birmingham, needs him…
18. Captain America
Marvel Promotional Image
“Steve Rogers” also got a write-in vote in Alabama. Captain America might not be the best representative of Alabama — he always saves the day, but causes a great deal of damage in the process.
19. Ron Paul
Getty Images
Former Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) got at least two votes in the Alabama Senate race. The libertarian hope in 2008 and 2012, Ron Paul has largely faded from the political scene, and his son Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has not quite succeeded in taking up his banner. Paul also got one vote in the Electoral College in 2016.
20. Ronald Reagan
Pres. Ronald Reagan, left, and Mrs. Nancy Reagan wave farewell from the doorway of Air Force One prior to their departure from Los Angeles International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 29, 1984, (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz)
Former President Ronald Reagan also received at least one vote. While Reagan proved pivotal in winning the Cold War, he passed away in 2004.
21. Ron Swanson
YouTube screenshot.
Last but not least, libertarian icon Ron Swanson jumped out of “Parks and Recreation” to take at least one vote in the Alabama Senate election.
Honorable mentions: Whiskers the cat, Sarah Palin, Robert Mueller, Ben Shapiro, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), SpongeBob SquarePants, David Brooks, Sean Hannity, UR Mom, and Jimmy Buffet.
Those Alabama voters had a fun time not voting for Roy Moore. Nearly 50 left the write-in ballot blank, however.
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