MSNBC on Monday accidentally aired a graphic showing the results of the race for governor of Florida, and the internet wants to know what exactly happened.
During All In with Chris Hayes, the network showed the results of the contest between Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) and former Congressman Ron DeSantis (R) ahead of Tuesday's election.
In the image, Gillum was shown beating DeSantis with 49.4 percent of the vote to DeSantis's 48.8 percent. That 0.6 percent edge was accompanied by projected vote totals - Gillum's 3,343,634 to DeSantis's 3,297,970 - with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
MSNBC
Living in the age of constant drones about "fake news" and perceived network bias means swaths of people have questions.
Wait, how does @MSNBC and @chrislhayes already have Florida results? #TheIlluminatiIsReal https://t.co/taomeTVvzN— Jonathan Chavez (@Jonathan Chavez) 1541467218.0
@dhjr @chrislhayes @allinwithchris @MSNBC Interesting... I thought Florida voted Tuesday not today .. weird huh?… https://t.co/aaOuMa23e8— Scott Sheehan (@Scott Sheehan) 1541467470.0
@JackPosobiec I’d in error you mean purposely placed on national tv then yes it’s a huge “error”— Ben Stanton 🇺🇸 (@Ben Stanton 🇺🇸) 1541481132.0
Wishful thinking?
@SaraCarterDC @RonDeSantisFL Just noticed the "99% in" at the top right😂🤣😂— Against All Odds🍹⭐⭐⭐ (@Against All Odds🍹⭐⭐⭐) 1541485140.0
Foul play?
@SaraCarterDC @RonDeSantisFL @msnbc Got caught posting their phony results too early.. The people of Florida need t… https://t.co/sDzosUhmoW— karma (@karma) 1541492246.0
@SaraCarterDC @RonDeSantisFL Democrats which the main stream media is a part of, can't win without cheating .— Larry (@Larry) 1541511191.0
@SaraCarterDC @RonDeSantisFL A discourage tactic, no accident. Dirty move to try keeping Republican voters from goi… https://t.co/GwR6bV2ZaV— William Silva (@William Silva) 1541511088.0
Not so fast.
@Wills149 @SaraCarterDC @RonDeSantisFL Republicans don’t watch MSNBC anyway, what difference will it make? But for… https://t.co/q5inESXpk3— Snorlax/Aggron (@Snorlax/Aggron) 1541513022.0
Some people are convinced MSNBC is trying to rig the midterms.
@JackPosobiec I’d in error you mean purposely placed on national tv then yes it’s a huge “error”— Ben Stanton 🇺🇸 (@Ben Stanton 🇺🇸) 1541481132.0
@JackPosobiec @rlaurich They just jinxed it. 😂😂😂— Patrick Clancey (@Patrick Clancey) 1541485931.0
No, MSNBC isn't trying to predict the future, and as far as we can tell, the simulation isn't glitching.
Rather, someone playing with graphics screwed up.
Hayes explained that the "system had inadvertently populated some test numbers" and the network does not have any vote totals ahead of the election.
“Quick clarification here,” Hayes said. “Just want to say, earlier this hour, uh, we showed a graphic of the Florida gubernatorial race. May have caught your eye because our system had inadvertently populated some test numbers. Obviously, we do not yet have any vote totals here, the night before the election. That was a misfire. Don’t worry. I was pretty confused when I saw it up there, to see it there myself.”
Watch Hayes's explanation below:
These things happen.
But what if...
@Breaking911 What would really be creepy would be if that's the actual result tonight. Then you know for sure that… https://t.co/pJNPJAe4rW— Paratus (@Paratus) 1541516258.0
As of Tuesday morning, polling shows Gillum with a 4-point lead over DeSantis, 50-46 percent, which is within the margin of error for the final NBC News Marist poll.
@MSNBC Don't listen to the polls. Go vote.— Justin G. (@Justin G.) 1541494858.0
@MSNBC Trust. No. Polls. Especially on the eve before election day.— rsa (@rsa) 1541495345.0
@MSNBC Never rely on the POLLS. Most are misleading. Get out and VOTE!!!— Scott Imlay (@Scott Imlay) 1541496926.0
But polls can be wrong, and spoiler graphics aside, it is still imperative that everyone who can vote, does.