Elections have historically been defined by their winners and losers - but on Tuesday a primary in Nevada returned a disheartening result for all the candidates: nobody won.

Voters in the state's Democratic primary for governor were so unimpressed by the eight men on offer that the most popular option on the ballot paper was "none of these candidates," which received 30 percent of the vote, according to figures from The Associated Press.

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Democrat activists in the state acknowledged earlier this year that they had failed to find a credible challenger to face incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, according to Politico. And it clearly showed at the polling stations, with more than 21,000 people turning out with the express purpose of saying "no thanks" to the sum total of their party's would-be governors.

If voters did in fact want an empty seat instead of a challenger to face Sandoval they will be disappointed: In second place behind "none of these candidates" was Robert Goodman, a man who has run twice before and this time received 25 percent of the vote. State law means he will be the Democratic candidate.

Aside from failed 2012 House candidate Stephen Frye, who won 11 percent of the vote, no other candidates got into double digits. Unsurprisingly, this was the source of great amusement on Twitter as the results rolled in.

Coming down to the wire in the Nevada Dem. Primary for Governor. None of the Above refuses to concede to Any of the Above. #protestyourparty — Dayvid Figler (@OyVegas) June 11, 2014