Deceased California Candidate Nears Election Win as Votes Lead

WHO:

Newsweek - Bruce Giudici was a California county race candidate.

TMZ - Bruce Giudici was a candidate for a Calaveras County Board of Supervisors seat.

TMZ - Giudici’s opponent was alive.

WHAT:

Newsweek - Giudici led the county race by more than 400 votes.

TMZ - Giudici had a 497-vote lead; TMZ described him as having “all but clinched victory.”

Drudge Report - Its headline said a dead candidate was “on brink of winning” a California supervisor race.

WHERE:

Newsweek - The race was in California.

TMZ - The race was for a Calaveras County supervisor seat in California.

WHEN:

Newsweek - Giudici died while campaigning in August.

TMZ - Giudici died in August.

WHY:

Newsweek - Giudici died while campaigning.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 22:04 UTC)

Bruce Giudici led California’s Calaveras County supervisor race by 497 votes, despite being dead. He died while campaigning in August, while his opponent remained alive. Giudici was described as nearly clinching victory in the county race.