“American Idol” alum Clay Aiken has been named winner in North Carolina’s Democratic Congressional primary race, one day after his political rival was found dead.
Aiken received the 40 percent of votes necessary to move on to the Nov. 4 general election, where he will face off against Republican Renee Elmers for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District seat. The tally will become official during a review by North Carolina’s state elections board on May 22.
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Aiken was amid a heated race against chief Democratic opponent, Keith Crisco. The primary election on May 6 was too close to call, and Aiken was leading by less than 400 votes before Crisco died suddenly Monday after a fall in his home.
Aiken subsequently suspended his campaign activities upon hearing news of Crisco’s death.
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Crisco’s campaign manager, Christine Botta, said that Crisco had decided to concede the race to Aiken just before he died.