NAT race finalized, CNS still hashing it out
BRIDGEWORTH, EAST DESCHIRE--Secretary of State Allison Sweeten (NAT) cruised to a victory last night in East Deschire's primary election, easily defeating her primary opponent, Hansboro businessman John Blackman by a margin of 55%-45%, respectively, in the state's open Senate race.
The Conservative side was more complicated. Businessman Mike Aventhalle of Haysworth led the pack of four contenders, garnering 26.91%, followed by Rep. Sam Pyatt (Ridgeview), who came in with 25.93 per cent. Right behind Pyatt was Jim Reebis with 25.87% and State Senate Majority Leader Gerald Ivenroe (Waverly) with 21.29 per cent.
In East Deschire, candidates must attain at least 40 per cent of the vote to advance as the party's nominee. That means Sweeten, who was favored to win the two-way race on the NAT side, will advance to the general election as the Nationalist Party's nominee.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives will head to a run-off, with front-runner Aventhalle and runner-up Pyatt facing each other in a special election two weeks from now on September 16. The winner of that contest will advance to the general election to face Sweeten.
Aventhalle is predicted to have the edge in the run-off, with many younger and independent-leaning voters supporting his candidacy. Pyatt has an advantage with older and more conservative voters, but his lengthy tenure in state and federal politics could be a turn-off to voters in an anti-establishment year.
Speaking inside a large barn on his farm in Haysworth where he resides, Mr. Aventhalle claimed victory Thursday night at his campaign party, and told supporters the fight "is only beginning."
"We had our hands full in this primary, and we still do with a run-off looming now," he said. "But come December, we will face the biggest battle: Allison Sweeten.
"And we're not afraid, are we?" Aventhalle said to a cheering crowd.
Mr. Aventhalle also brushed off criticism from fellow Conservatives, who felt he had not campaigned hard enough.
"You know, some people said we weren't working hard enough, that our hearts weren't in it and we didn't want it that bad. But I think tonight disproves that whole argument. We worked hard and we will continue working hard until we are guaranteed a seat in Mavocke," he said.
Across the state in Ridgeview, Congressman Pyatt reminded his opponent the primary race is not yet resolved.
"He seems to be claiming victory already and moving on to the general election. Well, the race is not over. You need to focus on the present, not what's way down the road," Pyatt told reporters at his campaign celebration at a downtown Ridgeview hotel.
The other two Conservatives in the race, who were eliminated in last night's primary, did not say much to the media, only thanking supporters and wishing their fellow Conservatives well in what is shaping up to be a difficult general election.
After results came in on primary night, Sen. Ivenroe immediately endorsed Pyatt. Reebis, a CPA and financial advisor from Clawfield, declined to endorse either of the two remaining candidates. However, a source close to the candidate says he is likely to back Aventhalle.
On the NAT side, John Blackman graciously conceded defeat to Allison Sweeten, and pledged his support.
"We have to focus on December now, because we have a real chance of winning a majority of East Deschire's Senate seats for the first time in history," Blackman said at his campaign party in Hansboro. "And though I wanted to win, I know Allison Sweeten is a dedicated Nationalist who loves her state and loves this country, and she will be a visionary in the Senate if she is elected, and I plan to do all I can to get her elected."
Sweeten also returned compliments to Blackman, calling him a "shining example of Nationalist values," and thanked him for his support.
"We welcome John Blackman's support and that of his supporters, because we are going to need every bit of support we can get in this race," Sweeten said to a cheering crowd at her election party in Bridgeworth.
Joining Sweeten at her party, which was held at a friend's home in Bridgeworth's swank Moss Hill neighborhood, was fellow Senate candidate Portia McLendon, who ran unopposed for the NAT nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Roger Gzarno (CNS). Mr. Gzarno also ran unopposed in the primary.
In the state's gubernatorial race, incumbents Gov. Lynn DeMont and Lt. Gov. Laurel McEdery (NAT) ran unopposed, as did their Conservative opponents, Ken Nuenneth and Lisa Nolander.
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