The winner of the 2024 presidential election may have been humorously decided not by voters, but by a pair of cockroaches. At the 21st Annual Cockroach Derby, held on August 15 during the New Jersey Pest Management Association’s (NJPMA) 75th Annual Clinic, Trade Show, and Clambake at Raritan Valley Community College, a cockroach adorned with a Kamala Harris image on its back emerged victorious, defeating its competitor carrying a Donald Trump caricature.
Despite a slow start, the Harris cockroach surged ahead, leaving the Trump cockroach, which briefly got disoriented and turned around, trailing behind. “Kamala Harris was a little sleepy at first, while Donald Trump got a bit confused and turned backward,” said Len Douglan, NJPMA’s executive director. “But in the end, it was Kamala Harris who crossed the finish line first.”
Interestingly, this playful event carries a surprising track record, with the derby winners having accurately predicted the outcomes of 84% of presidential elections. The race featured two Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, chosen for their size and responsiveness, with caricatures of the candidates attached to their backs. The race, though short in duration—lasting just about 10 minutes—has become a beloved tradition among the 600 pest control professionals attending the event.
The event serves as a fun, light-hearted break for attendees of the annual seminars, which also cover more serious topics like bed bugs, ants, mosquitoes, and termites. Past races have even seen some controversies, such as when a Bush cockroach was disqualified for taking flight during a race against a Clinton cockroach.
In 2020, the Biden cockroach similarly triumphed over the Trump entry, further adding to the event’s reputation for political forecasting. And for those interested in owning their own Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, a breeding pair is available on Amazon for $17.25.
Following the derby, the event continued with various training sessions on pest management, business, and safety, with topics ranging from “Invasive Mosquito Species” to “Pesticide Safety.”
