Gilcrest Falls To O'Neil In Veroche Senate Primary

Gilcrest becomes second incumbent senator to lose a primary this season


TWIN LAKES, VEROCHE--Incumbent Senator Niles Gilcrest (Conservative) has lost his party's nomination for re-election to his more conservative opponent Talley O'Neil.

With 98% of precincts reporting, Gilcrest was trailing O'Neil 53%-46%, according to Veroche Secretary of State Bridger Beckham. Some military and absentee ballots still need to be counted, but Beckham estimated only about 40,000 more, making it almost impossible for Gilcrest to surpass O'Neil's vote total.

That means Sen. Gilcrest is the second senator this election season to lose his party's nomination for re-election. Last week, Michael Kreighorn lost the NAT nomination in Biereland, and is now running as an independent. Gilcrest is considering an independent run, according to campaign staff, but has not made a final decision.

"That's something we're looking at and something the senator might want to do but it really comes down to what he wants and what his family wants," campaign spokeswoman Mary Ann Rice said.

For months, O'Neil led the much more moderate Gilcrest in polls. Teaming up with Veroche's Conservative lion, Sen. Evelynn Blankenship, who is also up for re-election this year, O'Neil attempted to oust Gilcrest and other moderate members and replace them with "true Conservatives."

In recent weeks however, Gilcrest, who has touted his moderate voting record as proof of independence, closed the gap between he and O'Neil, and political pundits were unsure what would result from Tuesday's primary election.

At around 10:00 pm Tuesday night, O'Neil claimed victory at her celebration in Lavington in east Veroche. Calling the result "close but decisive," she praised her supporters for their "strong effort" and claimed her primary win is "proof the voters of Veroche want a Conservative who will stand up for them."

Further south in Twin Lakes, the state's second-largest city, Gilcrest conceded O'Neil would likely win, but told his supporters "this is not over."

"We're not throwing in the towel just yet because we know this fight is not over," Gilcrest told his disappointed but hopeful supporters.

In Veroche's other senate election, which received less attention from the media because it was less combative, fiery incumbent Evelynn Blankenship fended off the moderate former mayor of Lake City, Richard Scholinger. With 97% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Blankenship had 54% to Scholinger's 45 per cent.

"We're delighted and deeply humbled the people of Veroche have renominated me for a second term. I feel very blessed," a beaming Blankenship told the media outside her campaign celebration in north Lake City.

A spokesman for the Scholinger campaign said the mayor is also considering a potential independent bid in the general election, but would not comment on specifics. Veroche is one of seven states that allow candidates to file as independents if they lose the primary election.

Blankenship will now go on to face Nationalist David Acade in the general election, while O'Neil will face Neal Neeley (NAT). The Nationalists are heavily favored to win both races.