STARKSMIN, Wellington--It's been another disappointing election season for Wellington Assemblywoman Sally Haverstein (C).
The six-term assemblywoman, who represents the electorate of Dempsey-Meeshaw in central Wellington, came up short in her bid to oust incumbent Sen. Nadan Saralo (N), earning 47% to Saralo's 53%.
It's the third time in six years Haverstein has ran for the Senate, and she's lost every time, all by narrow margins.
In 2010, she challenged Sen. Paul Leitcher.
In that race, Haverstein won the initial vote count with 41.7% in a three-way race against Leitcher and Independent businessman Bill Kintelli. Leitcher garnered 40.6% and Kintelli 17.7% in the preliminary counts.
Because no candidate received 45%, the minimum threshold required to win under Wellington electoral laws, a run-off election was triggered. In the run-off election, Leitcher narrowly prevailed over Haverstein, 50.3% to 49.7%.
And back in 2008, Haverstein also ran against Leitcher in a special election, but lost by a 48%-51% margin.
This time around was supposed to be different for Haverstein. Despite a national NAT tidal wave that swept the country, Saralo, who is the second-highest-ranking Nationalist in the Senate, had modest approval numbers, and polls showed Haverstein within striking distance.
Additionally, fellow Nationalist Sen. Chris DeCarro also had lackluster approval ratings, and the Conservative party found a formidable challenger in fellow Assemblyman Joe Wilsey of Claremonte-White Pines.
The general consensus among political pundits was that, in spite of the strong NAT trend across the country, Saralo and DeCarro were considered vulnerable, and Wellington was thought to be a rare opportunity for gains for the CNS.
But in the end, Haverstein came up short for a third time, again, by a small margin.
And Wilsey also came up short, earning 46% to DeCarro's 54%.
The Wilsey-DeCarro race was also a rematch. The two faced off in the 2008 special election, where DeCarro won 53% to 47%.
Regarding her losing streak, Haverstein is up front: she is clearly disappointed.
"Losing once is tough enough, but losing twice and now three times, and each time by slim margins, makes it very difficult, very demoralizing," she told the Starksmin Frontiersman.
Wilsey also expressed disappointment, but was optimistic.
"Of course you're disappointed. It's always disappointing. But you have a choice. You can either dwell on your defeats and sit around and feel sorry for yourself, or you can look to the future and pick yourself up and get back out there," he told the NPF.
As for the winners, Saralo told the Mavocke Capitol that he is grateful the voters returned him for a second term.
"I'm very appreciative to the people of Wellington for re-electing me and trusting in me to represent them."
About his opponent, he is less appreciative.
"I think she lost because of her extreme views, and also because of some of the extraordinarily negative attacks she made against me. I think the voters saw through those ads and saw them for what they were: lies and falsehoods."
DeCarro also expressed appreciation to voters for being re-elected, and he also expressed regard for his two-time opponent, Joe Wilsey.
"I'm very thankful to the people for letting me serve, and I'm thankful to Joe Wilsey for running a tough campaign. We disagree on just about everything, but I do respect him as an elected official and I think he does embody a lot of what Wellingtonians want in their elected leaders," DeCarro told GNN.
As for another attempt at the Senate, Haverstein says "probably not."
"After three tries, you just get exhausted and demoralized, and donors become more wary. So I think the chances of another run any time soon are very unlikely."
Wilsey did not rule out another run, but said it won't be in the near future.
"I'm always open to possibilities, but right now I am focused on serving in the Assembly and I think I'll be there for a while longer."
The six-term assemblywoman, who represents the electorate of Dempsey-Meeshaw in central Wellington, came up short in her bid to oust incumbent Sen. Nadan Saralo (N), earning 47% to Saralo's 53%.
It's the third time in six years Haverstein has ran for the Senate, and she's lost every time, all by narrow margins.
In 2010, she challenged Sen. Paul Leitcher.
In that race, Haverstein won the initial vote count with 41.7% in a three-way race against Leitcher and Independent businessman Bill Kintelli. Leitcher garnered 40.6% and Kintelli 17.7% in the preliminary counts.
Because no candidate received 45%, the minimum threshold required to win under Wellington electoral laws, a run-off election was triggered. In the run-off election, Leitcher narrowly prevailed over Haverstein, 50.3% to 49.7%.
And back in 2008, Haverstein also ran against Leitcher in a special election, but lost by a 48%-51% margin.
This time around was supposed to be different for Haverstein. Despite a national NAT tidal wave that swept the country, Saralo, who is the second-highest-ranking Nationalist in the Senate, had modest approval numbers, and polls showed Haverstein within striking distance.
Additionally, fellow Nationalist Sen. Chris DeCarro also had lackluster approval ratings, and the Conservative party found a formidable challenger in fellow Assemblyman Joe Wilsey of Claremonte-White Pines.
The general consensus among political pundits was that, in spite of the strong NAT trend across the country, Saralo and DeCarro were considered vulnerable, and Wellington was thought to be a rare opportunity for gains for the CNS.
But in the end, Haverstein came up short for a third time, again, by a small margin.
And Wilsey also came up short, earning 46% to DeCarro's 54%.
The Wilsey-DeCarro race was also a rematch. The two faced off in the 2008 special election, where DeCarro won 53% to 47%.
Regarding her losing streak, Haverstein is up front: she is clearly disappointed.
"Losing once is tough enough, but losing twice and now three times, and each time by slim margins, makes it very difficult, very demoralizing," she told the Starksmin Frontiersman.
Wilsey also expressed disappointment, but was optimistic.
"Of course you're disappointed. It's always disappointing. But you have a choice. You can either dwell on your defeats and sit around and feel sorry for yourself, or you can look to the future and pick yourself up and get back out there," he told the NPF.
As for the winners, Saralo told the Mavocke Capitol that he is grateful the voters returned him for a second term.
"I'm very appreciative to the people of Wellington for re-electing me and trusting in me to represent them."
About his opponent, he is less appreciative.
"I think she lost because of her extreme views, and also because of some of the extraordinarily negative attacks she made against me. I think the voters saw through those ads and saw them for what they were: lies and falsehoods."
DeCarro also expressed appreciation to voters for being re-elected, and he also expressed regard for his two-time opponent, Joe Wilsey.
"I'm very thankful to the people for letting me serve, and I'm thankful to Joe Wilsey for running a tough campaign. We disagree on just about everything, but I do respect him as an elected official and I think he does embody a lot of what Wellingtonians want in their elected leaders," DeCarro told GNN.
As for another attempt at the Senate, Haverstein says "probably not."
"After three tries, you just get exhausted and demoralized, and donors become more wary. So I think the chances of another run any time soon are very unlikely."
Wilsey did not rule out another run, but said it won't be in the near future.
"I'm always open to possibilities, but right now I am focused on serving in the Assembly and I think I'll be there for a while longer."
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