Usually confident and charismatic, Probable Cause Party presidential candidate Steve Rinehart appeared nervous and unsettled before the announcement of the primary election results late Thursday evening.
Elections Registrar Josh Walker stated the results beginning with fourth place.
Apathy party received 203 votes.
And Probable Cause took third with 582 votes?short 173 votes needed to beat Elevation and advance to the final elections.
“We thought we could make it without filling our party,” Rinehart said.
But without the votes from additional Student Senate and General Assembly candidates and their friends, Probable Cause lacked the support it needed for a second place seat.
“Maybe we were too abrasive,” Rinehart said, referring to what he called his “confrontational” campaign.
Rinehart also said he was unable to post more than $550 worth of campaign posters because of time constraints.
“I like [the Impact and Elevation parties], they are good people,” Rinehart said. “But there is no reason to think that anything will be any different next year with either of those candidates.”
The Apathy Party candidates, who attended election debates and activities sparsely, were not present for the election announcement. Probable Cause vice president candidate Annie Deprey didn’t attend either.