Charlie Wilson Dies: 5 Things To Know About Famous Ohio Congressman

Former Congressman Charlie Wilson, Jr., D-Ohio, died Sunday in a Florida hospital. The cause of Charlie Wilson's death was said to be complications from a February stroke he suffered while in the Sunshine State on vacation. Wilson was 70 years old.

Though not related to the Texas Democrat whose actions in support of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan earned him a Tom Hanks portrayal in "Charlie Wilson's War," Charlie Wilson of Ohio famously fought a war of his own.

As is custom in nearly every official American election, signatures from prospective constituents are required to earn a spot on the ballot. During the 2006 midterm elections, Wilson made history.

Former Gov. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, was the incumbent Democrat in the rural Appalachian sixth Congressional District. Deciding not to run for reelection and instead seek the chief executive's office in Columbus, Strickland left the door open for anyone who wished to run for Congress. Charlie Wilson was at that time a four term Ohio state representative in the midst of his first term in the state Senate.

When Charlie Wilson left the state Senate, his son Jason Wilson was appointed to succeed him. Charlie Wilson then submitted a petition signed by nearly 100 constituents supporting his placement on the ballot for U.S. Congress. Wilson only reportedly needed 50 signatures. However, Columbiana County voter registration officially only approved 46 signatures, leaving Wilson off the ballot.

Most candidates that run a write-in election do not normally win. Charlie Wilson changed that when he waged a write-in battle and beat all other candidates, winning a seat in Washington. Wilson joined an elite group of very few elected officials who have won their seats through write-in campaigns. Most recently Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, beat Republican Joe Miller, who she had lost to narrowly in the primary, as well as Democratic candidate Scott McAdams.

Charlie Wilson notably served on the House Committee on Science and Technology, likely due to his district being in a coal-rich area of Appalachia. He was also a member of the Bluedog coalition of centrist Democrats. Charlie Wilson was also the owner of both Wilson Funeral Home and Wilson Furniture Store in Ohio.