Reedsworth Wins Senate Run-Off in Trinton

Three-term senator defeated by insurgent congressman

WILMINGTON, Trinton--Veteran Nationalist Senator Grace Kemp's tenure in the upper house came to an end Tuesday night, as Conservative-turned-Independent George Reedsworth defeated the three-term incumbent in a run-off election.

With 98 per cent of the state's precincts reporting, Reedsworth, 65, a congressman from the southern suburbs of Wilmington, led with 54.9 per cent to Kemp's 45.1 per cent.

It was a decisive victory for Reedsworth, who actually came in second place in a three-way race during the general election. In that race, Kemp came out on top with just under 40 per cent, the necessary amount to win. Reedsworth trailed with 32.5 per cent, followed by Conservative state Sen. Randy Kalamaza, who had 27.9 per cent.

Because no candidate reached the 40 per cent mark, the minimum required by state law to be certified the winner, the top two candidates, Kemp and Reedsworth, advanced to the run-off election.

Kemp, now 58, was just 40 years old when he entered the Senate. His tireless work on the environment and anti-war initiatives, his record of securing funding for his home state, as well as other liberal views made him a favorite in the run-off election in a state where Nationalists outnumber Conservatives 2-to-1.

But relentless attacks on his hyper-partisan nature and volatile temper caused Kemp's support to slip. Reedsworth, buoyed by enthused Conservatives, gained momentum and quickly caught up to Kemp in the polls.

Returns released by Trinton Secretary of State Trip Kellet show voter turn-out was substantially higher in the predominantly conservative areas of southern and western Trinton. Turn-out in the more liberal north, where the Kemp campaign was hoping to maximize vote gains, was considerably lower.

Statewide voter turn-out was around 43 per cent, according to Kellet; higher than his earlier prediction of 37 per cent.

Speaking to supporters at the Dublin Hotel in downtown Wilmington, Reedsworth promised to bring real change to the Senate.

"I have never been one to abide by convention or party politics. I never let politics determine my vote when I was in the Assembly, and I'll never let it determine my votes while in the Senate," he said.

Kemp, whose supporters gathered in the northern city of Tornboro, was visibly emotional as he recalled the past 18 years he spent in the Senate.

"While this is not the outcome we were hoping for, I respect the will of the voters," he said. "My time in the Senate has been the greatest time of my life. I am honored the people of Trinton have allowed me the opportunity to serve them in such a proud and distinguished way."

At his victory celebration, Reedsworth was joined on stage by Sen. Kelsey Frascanio, whose allegiance to the congressman waivered considerably during the campaign.

Reedsworth, who served in the Assembly for 12 years as a Conservative, lost the CNS primary to the more hardline Randy Kalamaza. After initially endorsing Reedsworth, Frascanio, Trinton's first woman in the Senate, changed her mind and backed Kalamaza.

When Kalamaza lost in the general election, Frascanio vowed to stay neutral during the run-off. But on Sunday, Ms. Frascanio made a last-minute endorsement of Reedsworth, who ran as an Independent after losing the primary to Kalamaza.

It was a complicated relationship and a confusing assortment of endorsements and retractions. But Frascanio and Sen. Kit McHenry of Veroche, chairwoman of the Conservative Senate Campaign Committee (CSCC), vowed to support Reedsworth despite the bitter primary and party switching controversy.

"George Reedsworth was not my first choice for Senate. But he's a heck of a lot better than Grace Kemp," Frascanio told GNN's James Madine on Monday.

McHenry told the GBC's Gene Caughley the CSCC would back Reedsworth "One hundred per cent, irrespective of the primary and party switching issue.

"In my view, George Reedsworth was a Conservative and he left the party unwillingly because he lost to a strong-willed but less viable candidate. He still is a Conservative. The affiliation behind his name may have changed but his values still line up with the Conservative Party," McHenry said.

Despite the public support from national party leaders, many Conservatives in Trinton, particularly social Conservatives, refused to support Reedsworth, who is decidedly more liberal on issues such as abortion and stem cell research. A recent Liberty poll showed only 3 in 10 social conservatives supporting Reedsworth.

In contrast, 8 in 10 self-described "moderate" voters supported him, as did 8 out of 10 independents, according to the poll.

Reedsworth plans to caucus with the Conservatives, although he has vowed to remain "independent in spirit" while in the Senate.

"I will not be beholden to any political party. I will not let any other politician tell me what to do. I will stand up for the people of Trinton at all costs," he said.

His election is a big victory for Conservatives, who are currently dead-locked with Nationalists for control of the Senate. As it stands now, the Conservatives have 44 members, the Nationalists 45, along with 3 Democratic-Reformists and 2 Independents (counting Reedsworth).

One Senate seat is still up for grabs, and that is the seat currently held by Nationalist incumbent Jhinny Addelson of Deschire. She is facing a strong challenge from Conservative Congressman Clay Aioki. The special election for that seat is scheduled for Saturday, February 19.

Conservatives are hoping to knock off Addelson in Deschire as well, which would give both parties 45 seats each. However, Democratic-Reformist Senators Julie Wynymer of Carova and William J. Locke of Monomi, as well as Independent Niles Gilcrest of Veroche, have all committed to caucusing with the Conservatives.

Together, with Reedsworth, the Conservatives would be able to form a coalition with the two Democratic-Reformist members and the two Independent members, creating a coalition of 49 members to the Nationalists' 45, plus D-R Sen. Sheila Crouwsky of POG, or a coalition split of 49 to 46.

Control of the Senate will be uncertain until Saturday's election in Deschire, although the composition of the Senate is likely to remain largely unchanged, as the Conservatives held a one-seat majority during the 2008-2010 session. The Senate will continue in gridlock until the 2012 elections, most observers say.

"You've got two coalitions, one conservative and one liberal, and they're both almost evenly proportioned," says GNN political analyst James Madine. "Grassadellians must love gridlock, because this is the second consecutive election where we've almost perfectly split the Senate in half between the two parties. Do you think much is going to get done in the next two years? Probably not."