An Upstate New York political candidate lost his home, and then the election, in the same night.

WWNY reports Ogdensburg City Council candidate Robert Edie’s house burned down Tuesday night while he and his wife were out voting in the 2023 election. No one was home when the fire began around 5:30 p.m. at their St. Lawrence County residence.

Adding insult to injury, Edie lost in the city council race.

According to North Country Now, he was the only Republican among five candidates running for four open seats on the Ogdensburg City Council. He finished in fifth place with 519 votes behind Democrats R. Storm Cilley (843 votes), Donna Trimm (808 votes), Jennifer Stevenson (772 votes) and Michael Weaver (743 votes).

The results are unofficial and do not include absentee ballots, according to NCNow.

Police Chief Mark Kearns told WWNY that fire investigators determined an electrical malfunction caused the blaze. The flames started in an exterior light near a car port.

The home is a total loss, Kearns said. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.