NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki appeared stunned Tuesday when an error occurred in counting the votes in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial primary.
Hong lost by less than 1% after polls indicated she had a comfortable lead. During the “Kornacki Cam” segment on NBC News, Kornacki was at a loss for words when he learned that Milwaukee County officials announced five flash drives had botched voting data, meaning there would be delays in counting the votes.
“Really? Really?” Kornacki muttered. “So we’re just back to square one on this?”
Kornacki did not know how to respond live on-air to the delay. He looked into the camera and told viewers he was disappointed he would have to step off the air without the final results.
“It really is coming down to this one giant update in Milwaukee, but man … we, we … waited 90 minutes for them, they did this whole procession, and then we find out there’s nothing on the sticks … I want you to know I hate, hate doing this to you because we’ve been … I know you’re here for results and we’ve come to the point where it’s like one thing away. I hope you understand that everyone here has been for a long time,” Kornacki said.
The results soon came in, with Hong conceding early Wednesday.
“Thank you so much to everyone who joined in for our livestream last night. I couldn’t believe how many of you were right there with me as Milwaukee kept us waiting (and waiting) into the wee hours. I hope you got at least a little sleep!” Kornacki wrote on X.
Despite losing, several polls showed Hong leading by over 20 points before Tuesday. In Michigan, surveys indicated Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed would beat Democratic Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens by double digits, though he only defeated her by one point.
The Democratic establishment struck back in this race after losing several key primaries to DSA and further-left candidates. DSA candidates won a series of victories in New York, Colorado and Michigan after being endorsed by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but both were notably absent on the campaign trail for Hong.
(DCNF)