2007 Election Coverage--DES Gubernatorial Election
BERIVIAN, Deschire--In a state that is still reeling from a scandal surrounding its first governor, Jane Sonda, voters went to the polls Tuesday to elect a temporary governor to serve out the remainder of Sonda's term.
The four way race, which pitted Lieutenant Governor Jake Kemp (NAT) against Conservative Sharon Kelley, an African-Grassadellian state delegate, also included Democratic-Reformist businessman Grant Riley. A fourth candidate, interim Governor Jim Schiffer (NAT), who initially declined to run but changed his mind after the filing deadline, was not on the ballot but launched a vigorous write-in campaign.
With all precintcs reporting, Deschire Secretary of State Mary Jo Richardson reported Kelley with 32.26%, or 665,865 votes; followed by DR candidate Riley with 30.65%, or 632,634 votes. Lt. Gov. Kemp was next with 27.42%, or 565,965 votes; and Schiffer, with his write-in campaign, garnered 9.68%, or 199,801 votes. About four percent of Deschireans voted for other minor party candidates.
At her victory party, held at the De Louise Royal Ambassador Hotel in Arch, Kelley told local television station WDES-TV she was "elated" and promised to "serve the people of Deschire with my whole heart."
"This is a new day for Deschire. As governor, I won't put myself first. I won't put my friends first. I won't put politics first. I will serve the people with integrity and honor. I will bring much-needed change this state so desperately needs."
Kemp, who held his election night rally at the Kisho Club in downtown Berivian, told WOAB-TV he was "surprised" the race was not closer.
"I really thought it would be closer than that," Kemp said. "Obviously, I'm disappointed that the voters of Deschire have chosen to take our state in a different direction. I think--I mean, despite all the scandal in North Berivian with the former governor, I think...I think we really had something good going and our state was on the right track...we were better off than ever before."
Even though he lost, Democratic-Reformist candidate Grant Riley, a businessman and self-made millionaire, was pleased with his performance.
"I'm upbeat about this though," Riley told GNN NEWS. "Even though I lost, I look at the poll numbers, and we're down only 33,000 votes. I defeated an incumbent official, Lieutenant Governor Kemp, and I nearly beat Sharon Kelley. This just goes to show I really can effectively compete and am a major contender."
Riley told supporters, who had gathered at the Marian Restaurant in West Berivian, that he was proud of his campaign. He also hinted he may run again for governor in the 2008 general election.
"I'm proud of what we've done. We didn't win, but we came extremely close. And it proves that we ran an effective campaign, and that our message resonates with voters. Our message is simple: Nationalists and Conservatives are too busy with partisanship and political in-fighting. Only a third-party candidate can bring about the change our state needs. Folks, we still need change. Our message is still relevant. Our work is not finished."
Asked if he was leaving open the possibility of running in 2008, Riley replied he was unsure.
"That's a decision I'd have to think about with my family. It's going to be a while though before we make a decision."
Riley also congratulated Ms. Kelley on her victory, but reiterated the importance of change.
"I'm very happy for Sharon Kelley, I think she ran a fabulous campaign. I certainly wish her the best as governor, but the bottom line is we still need change, and I sincerely hope she will deliver that."
Jim Schiffer, whose last-minute write-in campaign was seen as a long-shot, conceded he stood little chance of winning. Gathering with his supporters at the Donglin Hotel in downtown Berivian, Schiffer congratulated Sharon Kelley and complimented his opponents for a well-ran election.
"My congratulations to Ms. Kelley. And my thanks to Lieutenant Governor Kemp and Mr. Riley as well," Schiffer said.
The state's election office's records show that Kemp raised the most money, over $1.3 million, compared to Kelley's $1.2 million. DR Grant Riley, who poured hundreds of thousands of his own money into the race, reported just over $1 million. Schiffer's supporters raised about $350,000, most of it just days before the election.
As recent as last week, polls showed a dead-heat race between Kemp, Kelley, and Riley. One showed Kemp with 30%, Kelley with 28%, Riley with 25%, Schiffer with 5% and 12% undecided.
Election results show Kemp led in southern Deschire, with southern Berivian county and all of Canman county voting strongly for him. Kelley's support lied in the northern, more affluent communities of Berivian county, and most of Prince, Courtsman, Messlin, and Kingsman counties. Kelley also had a strong lead in the Ridgeview area and most of eastern Deschire. The Dillingham-Dunham metro area in the northern part of the state, just barely went to Kemp. The Brookeford area in west-central Deschire, voted mostly for Riley.
During the campaign, Kelley attacked Kemp for his being tied to the Sonda scandal, though state police said there was no evidence to suggest Kemp was involved. Kemp counter-attacked Kelley as unqualified to lead the state and a mud-slinger. Riley portrayed Kemp as out of touch with voters and Kelley as inexperienced. Schiffer, who attempted to enter the race but was denied entrance by the Deschire Supreme Court, was attacked by the Kemp campaign, which believed he would siphon votes from the Lieutenant Governor. Schiffer attempted to high-light his accomplishments during his four months in office, and claimed he brought unity to Northbridge and was moving the state forward.
With the majority of the vote, Sharon Kelley has become the nation's first African-Grassadellian governor, and the first minority governor. She is also Deschire's first governor to be unmarried.
GNN NEWS has learned President Byelle and Conservative Party Chairman Bob Viacrosa both called Sharon Kelley to congratulate her.
The Secretary of State's office will officially certify the election results in the next three weeks.
BERIVIAN, Deschire--In a state that is still reeling from a scandal surrounding its first governor, Jane Sonda, voters went to the polls Tuesday to elect a temporary governor to serve out the remainder of Sonda's term.
The four way race, which pitted Lieutenant Governor Jake Kemp (NAT) against Conservative Sharon Kelley, an African-Grassadellian state delegate, also included Democratic-Reformist businessman Grant Riley. A fourth candidate, interim Governor Jim Schiffer (NAT), who initially declined to run but changed his mind after the filing deadline, was not on the ballot but launched a vigorous write-in campaign.
With all precintcs reporting, Deschire Secretary of State Mary Jo Richardson reported Kelley with 32.26%, or 665,865 votes; followed by DR candidate Riley with 30.65%, or 632,634 votes. Lt. Gov. Kemp was next with 27.42%, or 565,965 votes; and Schiffer, with his write-in campaign, garnered 9.68%, or 199,801 votes. About four percent of Deschireans voted for other minor party candidates.
At her victory party, held at the De Louise Royal Ambassador Hotel in Arch, Kelley told local television station WDES-TV she was "elated" and promised to "serve the people of Deschire with my whole heart."
"This is a new day for Deschire. As governor, I won't put myself first. I won't put my friends first. I won't put politics first. I will serve the people with integrity and honor. I will bring much-needed change this state so desperately needs."
Kemp, who held his election night rally at the Kisho Club in downtown Berivian, told WOAB-TV he was "surprised" the race was not closer.
"I really thought it would be closer than that," Kemp said. "Obviously, I'm disappointed that the voters of Deschire have chosen to take our state in a different direction. I think--I mean, despite all the scandal in North Berivian with the former governor, I think...I think we really had something good going and our state was on the right track...we were better off than ever before."
Even though he lost, Democratic-Reformist candidate Grant Riley, a businessman and self-made millionaire, was pleased with his performance.
"I'm upbeat about this though," Riley told GNN NEWS. "Even though I lost, I look at the poll numbers, and we're down only 33,000 votes. I defeated an incumbent official, Lieutenant Governor Kemp, and I nearly beat Sharon Kelley. This just goes to show I really can effectively compete and am a major contender."
Riley told supporters, who had gathered at the Marian Restaurant in West Berivian, that he was proud of his campaign. He also hinted he may run again for governor in the 2008 general election.
"I'm proud of what we've done. We didn't win, but we came extremely close. And it proves that we ran an effective campaign, and that our message resonates with voters. Our message is simple: Nationalists and Conservatives are too busy with partisanship and political in-fighting. Only a third-party candidate can bring about the change our state needs. Folks, we still need change. Our message is still relevant. Our work is not finished."
Asked if he was leaving open the possibility of running in 2008, Riley replied he was unsure.
"That's a decision I'd have to think about with my family. It's going to be a while though before we make a decision."
Riley also congratulated Ms. Kelley on her victory, but reiterated the importance of change.
"I'm very happy for Sharon Kelley, I think she ran a fabulous campaign. I certainly wish her the best as governor, but the bottom line is we still need change, and I sincerely hope she will deliver that."
Jim Schiffer, whose last-minute write-in campaign was seen as a long-shot, conceded he stood little chance of winning. Gathering with his supporters at the Donglin Hotel in downtown Berivian, Schiffer congratulated Sharon Kelley and complimented his opponents for a well-ran election.
"My congratulations to Ms. Kelley. And my thanks to Lieutenant Governor Kemp and Mr. Riley as well," Schiffer said.
The state's election office's records show that Kemp raised the most money, over $1.3 million, compared to Kelley's $1.2 million. DR Grant Riley, who poured hundreds of thousands of his own money into the race, reported just over $1 million. Schiffer's supporters raised about $350,000, most of it just days before the election.
As recent as last week, polls showed a dead-heat race between Kemp, Kelley, and Riley. One showed Kemp with 30%, Kelley with 28%, Riley with 25%, Schiffer with 5% and 12% undecided.
Election results show Kemp led in southern Deschire, with southern Berivian county and all of Canman county voting strongly for him. Kelley's support lied in the northern, more affluent communities of Berivian county, and most of Prince, Courtsman, Messlin, and Kingsman counties. Kelley also had a strong lead in the Ridgeview area and most of eastern Deschire. The Dillingham-Dunham metro area in the northern part of the state, just barely went to Kemp. The Brookeford area in west-central Deschire, voted mostly for Riley.
During the campaign, Kelley attacked Kemp for his being tied to the Sonda scandal, though state police said there was no evidence to suggest Kemp was involved. Kemp counter-attacked Kelley as unqualified to lead the state and a mud-slinger. Riley portrayed Kemp as out of touch with voters and Kelley as inexperienced. Schiffer, who attempted to enter the race but was denied entrance by the Deschire Supreme Court, was attacked by the Kemp campaign, which believed he would siphon votes from the Lieutenant Governor. Schiffer attempted to high-light his accomplishments during his four months in office, and claimed he brought unity to Northbridge and was moving the state forward.
With the majority of the vote, Sharon Kelley has become the nation's first African-Grassadellian governor, and the first minority governor. She is also Deschire's first governor to be unmarried.
GNN NEWS has learned President Byelle and Conservative Party Chairman Bob Viacrosa both called Sharon Kelley to congratulate her.
The Secretary of State's office will officially certify the election results in the next three weeks.
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