Concession (politics)
Encyclopedia
In politics, a concession is the act of a losing candidate publicly yielding to a winning candidate after an election
, when the overall result of the vote has become clear.
. In that case the candidate would likely demand a recount of the votes or other investigations into the alleged fraud. Sometimes concession may be denied not because of any specific fraud allegations, but simply because of ill will accumulated over the campaign.
, pressures from a media looking for news to report, an opposition campaign anxious to declare victory, and one's own campaign unwilling to concede defeat if there is any hope of a last-minute turnaround all weigh on the decision of the losing candidate. Though a spoken concession does not necessarily deny a candidate office if there is a drastic reversal in the vote count, it does practically prevent demands for recount.
It is exceedingly rare for a concession, once issued, to be retracted; such an event occurred in the United States 2000 presidential election
, when Democratic
candidate Al Gore, Jr. telephoned Republican
George W. Bush
to concede the contest. Gore was apparently unaware of the close vote count in the state of Florida
, and when he realized this, proceeded to cancel his concession address.
A losing candidate commonly offers a private concession directly to the winning candidate (usually by telephone) before any public announcement is made.
of a lost campaign. Out of courtesy, the winner of the campaign usually waits for a concession speech (if one is forthcoming) before delivering their own acceptance speech
.
A losing candidate usually thanks their supporters for their valiant efforts, and points to the non-electoral successes of the campaign in building party strength and raising issues to attention that would not otherwise be in public discussion. It is also traditional, unless the campaign has been exceptionally bitter, to congratulate the winning candidate and wish them well in office, perhaps even offering a parting word of advice.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
, when the overall result of the vote has become clear.
Refusal to concede
Concession, per se, is entirely optional, and a candidate will sometimes refuse to concede defeat despite the vote count being against them, especially if they suspect electoral fraudElectoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
. In that case the candidate would likely demand a recount of the votes or other investigations into the alleged fraud. Sometimes concession may be denied not because of any specific fraud allegations, but simply because of ill will accumulated over the campaign.
Timing of concession
If the vote is relatively close, it can be unclear when it is appropriate for a losing candidate to concede an election. On election nightElection Night
-Plot:On Election Day, Bartlet and his staff begin counting exit poll votes across the country. In the conservative 47th district of California, the results have important implications for Sam Seaborn and a maverick Democratic Party campaign manager, Will Bailey. Throughout the day, the President...
, pressures from a media looking for news to report, an opposition campaign anxious to declare victory, and one's own campaign unwilling to concede defeat if there is any hope of a last-minute turnaround all weigh on the decision of the losing candidate. Though a spoken concession does not necessarily deny a candidate office if there is a drastic reversal in the vote count, it does practically prevent demands for recount.
It is exceedingly rare for a concession, once issued, to be retracted; such an event occurred in the United States 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, when Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate Al Gore, Jr. telephoned Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to concede the contest. Gore was apparently unaware of the close vote count in the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and when he realized this, proceeded to cancel his concession address.
A losing candidate commonly offers a private concession directly to the winning candidate (usually by telephone) before any public announcement is made.
Concession speech
In the broadcast age, the concession speech of a candidate for high office reaches a wide audience, and is seen as the final swan songSwan song
"Swan song" is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely silent during its lifetime until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song...
of a lost campaign. Out of courtesy, the winner of the campaign usually waits for a concession speech (if one is forthcoming) before delivering their own acceptance speech
Acceptance Speech
Acceptance Speech is the six studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Hip Hop Pantsula, released under the CCP/EMI S.A. label in November 2008 in South Africa.-Track listing:...
.
A losing candidate usually thanks their supporters for their valiant efforts, and points to the non-electoral successes of the campaign in building party strength and raising issues to attention that would not otherwise be in public discussion. It is also traditional, unless the campaign has been exceptionally bitter, to congratulate the winning candidate and wish them well in office, perhaps even offering a parting word of advice.