RIDGEVIEW, East Deschire -- A conservative congressman from western East Deschire will be the CNS nominee for governor, after winning a close runoff election.
Assemblyman Sam Pyatt, who represents the Ridgeview-area electorate of Pittsgol in the panhandle region, defeated Christenkerr Mayor Phil Qwenberry in an upset victory that surprised party officials and pundits alike.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Pyatt - who has strong conservative credentials but also has close ties to the party establishment - led 52.05% to 47.95%, or 117,173 votes to 107,922 for Qwenberry, who is more moderate but also has connections with party leadership.
Both candidates were seen by party leaders as an acceptable nominee to challenge incumbent Gov. Lynn DeMont (N), who is seeking a third but second four-year term.
Qwenberry gave a concession speech in his hometown of Christenkerr at 11:00 pm.
A mayor and longtime political and business figure in the Vandershutes region of the state, Qwenberry thanked his supporters, congratulated his opponent, but did not pledge to support Pyatt in the general election.
Across the state, 350 miles northwest of Christenkerr, Pyatt celebrated his win at a hotel in downtown Ridgeview.
Also thanking his opponent, Pyatt asked for unity as the general election nears.
"At the end of the day, we're all Conservatives, and we all want to advance the vision we have for this state," said Pyatt.
His narrow victory came as a surprise to most, as he trailed Qwenberry in polls following the June 28 primary election.
In the primary, Qwenberry won a plurality of the vote, with 35.69%.
Pyatt finished second with 29.47%, followed by former Sen. Roger Gzarno (21.51%) and Iraq War veteran Tim Hutsell (13.33%).
Despite a high turn out of more than 374,000 CNS voters, no candidate won the necessary 40% of the vote as required by East Deschire law, triggering an automatic runoff election between the two top candidates.
Most polls up until this week showed Pyatt trailing Qwenberry anywhere from 4 to 12 points.
Many questioned Pyatt's ability to win, being tied to Mavocke as an assemblyman during a time when Congress' approval ratings are dismal.
Coming from the western side of the state, which is significantly less populated than the eastern side, was also seen as an obstacle for the underdog.
Pyatt's opponents tried to tie him to Mavocke in an effort to highlight his connection to Congressional gridlock and voters distrust of the bodies.
But the 6-term assemblyman fought back, voicing his staunch opposition to President Brenton Menuhaeo and Assembly Nationalists, and listing his accomplishments in Mavocke - including securing funding for jobs training, nuclear research, and the newly-constructed Ducott Medical Center in Ridgeview.
Pyatt also touted bills he wrote, which include laws that preserve gun and property rights and expand timber production in the timber-rich panhandle.
While he won the runoff election by almost 10,000 votes, Pyatt had a mediocre showing in his native territory, winning only three of the 11 counties that make up the panhandle region.
However, he did win in the two most populated counties of the panhandle, Seskennan County and neighboring Yarwood County.
Elsewhere across the state, Pyatt won mostly rural counties, though he did receive a sizable victory in Selkford County, the state's most populous. He also won Lewaina County (home to the state capital Derosa), and nearby Darrich County, the fourth-most populous county in the state.
Qwenberry easily won Matthieson County, which encompasses the Doylestown-Bridgeworth metro area, the second-largest in the state. He also captured Mardeau County, which includes the Dillingham-Dunham metro area, by almost 20 points.
The southeastern corner of the state went mostly for Phil Qwenberry, with 11 counties in the 16-county region backing the Christenkerr mayor.
Exit polls show the race was less about regional differences and more about age. Older voters supported Pyatt by a large margin, younger and middle-aged voters favored Qwenberry.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates criticized Gov. Lynn DeMont for being distracted from his duties as governor with national ambitions. They specifically cited his role as the chairman of the Nationalist Governors Association (NATGA), a position which involves a lot of out-of-state travel for party fundraisers and functions.
Pyatt preached fiscal restraint and limiting federal intrusion in state affairs while on the campaign trail, while Qwenberry campaigned heavily on a lower taxes and pro-business platform, something that won him strong support from younger families and entrepreneurs.
But that support from younger voters was not enough to off-set Pyatt's advantage with older voters, who make up a disproportionately large percentage of the CNS primary electorate.
The Conservative Governors Association (CGA) is expected to announce Monday that it will throw its support behind Pyatt. It's unclear just how much money and resources the national party is willing to devote to the general election.
Recent polls have shown Gov. Lynn DeMont leading Pyatt in a head-to-head match up, but most polls have also shown Pyatt within striking distance.
The DeMont campaign may have gotten its dream candidate in Pyatt, as they can now tie the Conservative assemblyman to the government dysfunction in Mavocke.
Supporters of Pyatt say voters will look past his connection to Mavocke because his conservative voting record is in line with East Deschire's conservative electoral tilt.
Dr. Kerry Rudgley, chair of the Edinough School of Government at Dulkalow University, currently rates the 2014 East Deschire gubernatorial race as "Leans NAT." The race was previously rated "NAT Favored."
Assemblyman Sam Pyatt, who represents the Ridgeview-area electorate of Pittsgol in the panhandle region, defeated Christenkerr Mayor Phil Qwenberry in an upset victory that surprised party officials and pundits alike.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Pyatt - who has strong conservative credentials but also has close ties to the party establishment - led 52.05% to 47.95%, or 117,173 votes to 107,922 for Qwenberry, who is more moderate but also has connections with party leadership.
Both candidates were seen by party leaders as an acceptable nominee to challenge incumbent Gov. Lynn DeMont (N), who is seeking a third but second four-year term.
Qwenberry gave a concession speech in his hometown of Christenkerr at 11:00 pm.
A mayor and longtime political and business figure in the Vandershutes region of the state, Qwenberry thanked his supporters, congratulated his opponent, but did not pledge to support Pyatt in the general election.
Across the state, 350 miles northwest of Christenkerr, Pyatt celebrated his win at a hotel in downtown Ridgeview.
Also thanking his opponent, Pyatt asked for unity as the general election nears.
"At the end of the day, we're all Conservatives, and we all want to advance the vision we have for this state," said Pyatt.
His narrow victory came as a surprise to most, as he trailed Qwenberry in polls following the June 28 primary election.
In the primary, Qwenberry won a plurality of the vote, with 35.69%.
Pyatt finished second with 29.47%, followed by former Sen. Roger Gzarno (21.51%) and Iraq War veteran Tim Hutsell (13.33%).
Despite a high turn out of more than 374,000 CNS voters, no candidate won the necessary 40% of the vote as required by East Deschire law, triggering an automatic runoff election between the two top candidates.
Most polls up until this week showed Pyatt trailing Qwenberry anywhere from 4 to 12 points.
Many questioned Pyatt's ability to win, being tied to Mavocke as an assemblyman during a time when Congress' approval ratings are dismal.
Coming from the western side of the state, which is significantly less populated than the eastern side, was also seen as an obstacle for the underdog.
Pyatt's opponents tried to tie him to Mavocke in an effort to highlight his connection to Congressional gridlock and voters distrust of the bodies.
But the 6-term assemblyman fought back, voicing his staunch opposition to President Brenton Menuhaeo and Assembly Nationalists, and listing his accomplishments in Mavocke - including securing funding for jobs training, nuclear research, and the newly-constructed Ducott Medical Center in Ridgeview.
Pyatt also touted bills he wrote, which include laws that preserve gun and property rights and expand timber production in the timber-rich panhandle.
While he won the runoff election by almost 10,000 votes, Pyatt had a mediocre showing in his native territory, winning only three of the 11 counties that make up the panhandle region.
However, he did win in the two most populated counties of the panhandle, Seskennan County and neighboring Yarwood County.
Elsewhere across the state, Pyatt won mostly rural counties, though he did receive a sizable victory in Selkford County, the state's most populous. He also won Lewaina County (home to the state capital Derosa), and nearby Darrich County, the fourth-most populous county in the state.
Qwenberry easily won Matthieson County, which encompasses the Doylestown-Bridgeworth metro area, the second-largest in the state. He also captured Mardeau County, which includes the Dillingham-Dunham metro area, by almost 20 points.
The southeastern corner of the state went mostly for Phil Qwenberry, with 11 counties in the 16-county region backing the Christenkerr mayor.
Exit polls show the race was less about regional differences and more about age. Older voters supported Pyatt by a large margin, younger and middle-aged voters favored Qwenberry.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates criticized Gov. Lynn DeMont for being distracted from his duties as governor with national ambitions. They specifically cited his role as the chairman of the Nationalist Governors Association (NATGA), a position which involves a lot of out-of-state travel for party fundraisers and functions.
Pyatt preached fiscal restraint and limiting federal intrusion in state affairs while on the campaign trail, while Qwenberry campaigned heavily on a lower taxes and pro-business platform, something that won him strong support from younger families and entrepreneurs.
But that support from younger voters was not enough to off-set Pyatt's advantage with older voters, who make up a disproportionately large percentage of the CNS primary electorate.
The Conservative Governors Association (CGA) is expected to announce Monday that it will throw its support behind Pyatt. It's unclear just how much money and resources the national party is willing to devote to the general election.
Recent polls have shown Gov. Lynn DeMont leading Pyatt in a head-to-head match up, but most polls have also shown Pyatt within striking distance.
The DeMont campaign may have gotten its dream candidate in Pyatt, as they can now tie the Conservative assemblyman to the government dysfunction in Mavocke.
Supporters of Pyatt say voters will look past his connection to Mavocke because his conservative voting record is in line with East Deschire's conservative electoral tilt.
Dr. Kerry Rudgley, chair of the Edinough School of Government at Dulkalow University, currently rates the 2014 East Deschire gubernatorial race as "Leans NAT." The race was previously rated "NAT Favored."
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