While everyone waited on the dramatic presidential election results that stretched for days, one small Kentucky town was busy celebrating its successful Election Day. The town of Rabbit Hash, located in northern Kentucky, elected an adorable dog as their mayor. This tradition added a bit of hilarity to an otherwise intense election cycle.
The French Bulldog named Wilbur Beast won the mayoral election in a landslide victory. With about 13,143 votes, the 6-month-old pup became the most popular doggy candidate in the history of Rabbit Hash. The town election also saw the biggest turnout since the tradition began in the 1990s, with a whopping 22,985 total votes cast.
Wilbur will replace the incumbent mayor named Brynneth Pawltro, a rescued Pittie who held the position since 2016. A Beagle named Jack Rabbit and a Golden Retriever named Poppy made it in the second and third place. The two will become the town’s newest ambassadors alongside Ambassador Lady Stone, who will retain her position.
Home to less than 500 people, the tiny town never had a human mayor. However, they conduct a contest every election cycle that serves as a fundraiser for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society. The competition is not state-sanctioned and is mostly just a fun distraction from the stress of human politics.
The contest is not open to just any animal. To qualify as a mayoral candidate, the challenger must chase a rabbit from their house to the town center within an hour. Eligible candidates then hold campaign events that typically commences in late August. For this year’s race, thirteen dogs, a donkey, a cat, and a rooster, were part of the eligible contenders’ mix.
Supporters from any part of the globe are welcome to cast their votes among the eligible candidates. Each voter scribbles down the name of their favored animal on a ballot paper and then donates $1 to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society. In this year’s contest, the small town raised nearly $23,000, which will help tend their historic buildings.
Source: Rabbit Hash Historical Society via Facebook