DeSalle Wins, Carr Holds On

Establishment candidates win gubernatorial primary, lose senate battle


LAMBERTH, KALNIER--Nationalist voters in Kalnier delivered a mixed result Tuesday night, sending an establishment-backed candidate on to the general election in the gubernatorial race, while rejecting the establishment candidate in the Senate race.

State Senator Karen DeSalle (N-Vitarick) held a small lead most of the night, until late returns from the Lamberth area came in and helped put her over the top to defeat former Governor Al McHugh of Lockwood. Mr. McHugh proved strong in northern and western Kalnier, while Ms. DeSalle performed well in the southern part of the state, and in the heavily NAT Lamberth area.

Having more money and more party support, the more liberal DeSalle was favored to win, but recent polls showed the race closer than originally expected.

At her victory celebration in west Lamberth, Ms. DeSalle thanked her supporters and vowed to defeat incumbent Conservative Governor Joe Gramma, who is seeking his second but first full term.

"Now we're going to charge Marble Hill and take our message of change to the very halls of the capitol," DeSalle said, referencing the capitol in Appenbaum, which is nick-named "Marble Hill" for the many buildings made with marble when constructed in the 1800s.

McHugh was expectedly less joyful, and acknowledged he was "disappointed" but also urged unity.

"We may not have gotten the result tonight that we wanted, but we all want a Nationalist governor in Appenbaum next year," he said. "Now is not the time for division but a time for unity."

Three hours to the west, endangered incumbent Senator Mark Carr was in Gatesburg, anxiously awaiting the results of the Senate primary, which pitted him against retired veteran and state Senator Robert Frost of Brookleigh. Carr's lack of accomplishment in the Senate made many party leaders unenthused about supporting his re-election, and many felt the more moderate and experienced Frost would have a better chance of winning against Conservative Rep. Samuel Tracy in the general election.

In the end, however, Frost's support from national party leaders was not enough to push him past Carr, who has had mediocre approval ratings in recent months. With 95 per cent of precincts reporting, Carr led Frost 52% to 47%. That was enough for the state senator to concede.

"I'd like to thank Senator Carr and congratulate him, and pledge our support to him this fall," Frost said at his campaign celebration in Donnsville.

Carr thanked Frost for his support but cautioned his supporters to be prepared for a tough general election.

"I'd like to thank Senator Frost for his pledge of support," Carr said. "I'd also like to thank the voters for really delivering tonight. It's going to be just as tough, if not tougher, in December. So we need everyone to get in election mode so we can win," a smiling Carr said to cheering supporters.

There were no major primary races on the Conservative side, as incumbent Governor Joe Gramma and incumbent Senator Shannon McCann are running for re-election, and Tracy is running unopposed for the Senate.