One way is for her opponent to completely take the vote for granted. O-C would never have been elected if her primary opponent had put effort into the primary.
Instead, they got complacent, and got primaried.
That doesn't mean O-C is exceptionally smart or organized. It means she saw an opportunity and got lucky.
It also means she has some smarts and some organization. It takes some to primary a long term member.
It is like an amateur taking out a professional boxer with a sucker punch. It can be done if the pro is complacent, and doesn't see it coming.
“Just how exactly does a completely inexperienced and unknown person who was a bartender six months ago get elected to a national office?”
Cuz ‘merica is like a big ‘ol Disney movin’ piture show whar anythang and any dream can come true!