KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 10): A man who died earlier this year was re-elected to his position as a state representative in the US midterm elections.

In a report on Wednesday (Nov 9), the Washington Examiner said Democrat Tony DeLuca, the longest-running Pennsylvania state representative of 39 years, died last month at 85 of lymphoma.

It said because of his recent death, election authorities were unable to change the ballots, and many voters chose him over Green Party challenger Queonia "Zarah" Livingston, marked by a sizeable lead.

A special election will be held to choose a proper candidate to take his seat.

The newspaper said some observers speculate that many voters chose DeLuca knowing he was dead in order to force a special election rather than vote for his third-party opponent.

DeLuca served as the Democratic chairman on the House Insurance Committee for 20 years.