Why the Concession Call to an Election Winner Is No Longer a Given
Calls After Election Day
The end of a campaign often brings a concession call, a difficult moment for the losing candidate and a welcome one for the winner. But recent accounts from Michigan and Ohio show that the exchange can be absent or unwelcome.
Abdul El-Sayed, the newly elected Democratic senator from Michigan, said his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, had not called. El-Sayed told reporters it did not matter much, adding that Rogers might have needed to catch a flight to Florida, where he owns a second home near Fort Myers. A spokeswoman for Rogers did not respond to a request for comment.
A Call Acton Declined
Amy Acton, elected governor of Ohio, said she had chosen not to take a call from her defeated Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy. During the final weeks of the campaign, a television commercial featured Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar.
Traditions Under Strain
In earlier periods, breaches of political protocol like these might have seemed unusual. The accounts come as the 2026 midterm elections approach their end, with several House races and one Senate race in Alaska still too close to call.
The broader question is whether failing to concede defeat has become more common. The article presents that as a possible conclusion, amid a less civil political climate and weakening expectations of courteous conduct.
Key points
- Abdul El-Sayed said Mike Rogers had not called after losing the Michigan Senate race.
- Amy Acton said she declined to speak with Vivek Ramaswamy after he left a congratulatory message.
- Several House races and an Alaska Senate race remained too close to call as the 2026 midterms wound down.