Margarette Faye Riggins Leach[1][2] (December 4, 1926 – December 23, 2007) was an American Democratic politician from West Virginia, best known for being a faithless elector during the 1988 United States presidential election.
She pledged to vote for Michael Dukakis for President of the United States and Lloyd Bentsen for Vice President of the United States. However, she cast her vote for Bentsen as President and Dukakis as Vice President as a form of protest against the electoral college's winner-take-all system.[3]
Leach was later a seven-term member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 15th district. She won the Democratic primary for an additional term, but lost the general election in 2006.
Leach died December 23, 2007.
References
- ^ Welch, Lee Ann (December 23, 2007). "Community leader Margarette Leach dies". The Herald Dispatch. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ^ "Notable Tri-State deaths in 2007". The Herald Dispatch. December 29, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Sharen Shaw (January 5, 1989). "CAPITAL LINE: [FINAL Edition]". USA Today. ProQuest 306154768.
Even though Bensten sought the vice presidency, Margarette Leach of West Virginia voted for him to protest the Electoral College's winner-take-all custom.