Gabler loses re-election bid in Marchenay

MADAGEN, Marchenay -- Her defeat was notable, not only because she is the highest-ranking governor in the nation, but because her ousting in last week's general election foreshadowed a familiar pattern that would emerge throughout election night.

Marchenay Gov. Christine Gabler (pronounced "Gabe-ler") lost her bid for re-election in a rematch with Conservative businessman David Brown.

Kathy Bernanski, Marchenay's secretary of state, certified the election today.

The results show a very close race, with Brown prevailing with 51.3% of the vote and Gabler trailing narrowly with 48.7%, respectively.

Earlier today, Gabler conceded the election and wished Brown well.

"I congratulate David Brown on his victory, and I wish him the best."

Brown spent the day meeting with advisors on a transition strategy.

"My plan is to hit the ground running and make sure this is a smooth and efficient transition, and that we can get Marchenay moving again as soon as possible," Brown told reporters at a mid-day press conference in Manchester, where he resides.

Brown's win was the marquee victory for Conservatives in December's general election.

The party had long been anxious to defeat Gabler, who maligned Conservatives with her overt partisanship and sharp criticism.

Nationalists had been optimistic Gabler, who at one point in time was relatively popular, would hang on.

The NAT, joined by women's groups and organizations representing minorities, launched a barrage of TV, radio and web ads attacking Brown for his wealth and connections with big business.

Brown countered by highlighting Gabler's divisive partisanship and Marchenay's lagging economy.

This year's rematch was more expensive than in 2012, when the candidates first ran against each other in a special election.

Gabler won that race with 56% of the vote.

This time around, the national mood and money poured into the race by conservative groups didn't help Gabler.

Her NAT colleagues fared just as badly in Kalnier, South Ceona, East Deschire, Wellington and Biereland.

Gabler is well-known for increasing funding for education and environmental protection. She's also well-known for frequent clashes with Conservatives, and even members of her own party.

She was recorded on audio tape telling her CNS colleagues to "go f**k" themselves.

And Wellington Gov. Pierre Carten, a fellow Nationalist, said publicly that Gabler intimidated him after he challenged her for the chairmanship of the National Governors Board.

According to Carten, Gabler tried to convince him to drop his bid for the chairmanship by threatening sanctions and retaliation against him and key economic projects in his state.

Gabler admitted she can be "unpleasantly tenacious" and often uses tough tactics to get what she wants.

"I can be bitchy," she famously said after a Conservative senator accused her of being needlessly mean.

But she denied intimidating Wellington's Pierre Carten, and said she welcomed anyone to challenge her leadership.

"I believe in the democratic process. If one of my colleagues is not satisfied with my leadership and he or she wants to put their name up against mine for a leadership vote, they have that prerogative and I welcome them to oppose me. That's healthy for our democracy," she said.

But her no-holds-barred and combative personality played right into Conservatives' hands this election, as Brown and his CNS allies sought to portray the governor as mean-spirited and vengeful.

According to exit polls, many voters agreed that Gabler's aggressive personality was a factor in their decision.

A strong enthusiasm among CNS voters also helped usher Gabler out, as discouraged liberal voters stayed home and Conservatives flocked to the polls.

There was no Conservative wave in Marchenay, however.

The CNS candidate for lieutenant governor did win as well, but Attorney General Dan Rattner (NAT) was narrowly retained by voters.

And Sen. Joseph Milhaughley (N) also was re-elected with an overwhelming 59% of the vote, easily beating Conservative state Sen. Steve Lind.

Sen. Megan Sellious (C) also won re-election, taking 56% of the vote over little-known NAT challenger, state Rep. Josh Hosni.

The main story of the night, however, was the gubernatorial race, in which Gov. Christine Gabler was deposed and her political career likely ended.

Gabler has not revealed her post-governor plans. But sources close to her say she will remain in politics.

Some friends and advisors believe she will end up working in the Brenton Menuhaeo administration for the next two years. Or work as a lobbyist.

David Brown is set to take office on January 26, 2015.

Byelle survives close call in Carova

CAROVA CITY, Carova -- After days of counting, Conservative Gov. Sam Byelle has been declared the winner in Carova's governor's race.

The race was too close to call on election night, but late today, Carova Secretary of State Ed Chassee declared Byelle the winner, with 51.02% of the vote, or 1,192,923 votes, to Maas' 48.98%, or 1,145,233 votes.

Running for a second term, Byelle - a former senator and the older brother of President Dan Byelle - faced an unusually close race in conservative-leaning Carova.

Byelle and his running mate Dave Emser received a formidable challenge from Nationalists Anna Maas, the progresive mayor of Lorenzi, and her running mate, Dean Haley, a state senator and former chairman of the Carova NAT party.

Initially, Byelle was considered a strong favorite for re-election. But media scrutiny of his frequent vacations and out-of-state trips, along with a series of gaffes, including an incident where he was caught on camera calling his job 'boring,' led to a tightening race.

Recent polls showed the two candidates virtually tied, although Byelle appeared to solidify his lead in the final three weeks of the campaign, as Nationalists across the country began bracing for a bruising electoral defeat.

Despite a clear enthusiasm gap, Anna Maas tried desperately to rally liberals, including labor groups and women voters, two key constituencies for the NAT.

She attacked Byelle for weakening unions and supporting anti-abortion legislation, and attempted to portray him as an out-of-touch, wealthy elite who was more famous for his last name than any governmental accomplishments.

"Sam Byelle's only real claim to fame is his last name," she told a local radio DJ in Vallingburg.

It may have been a clever catch phrase, but poking fun at Byelle's family political connections did little to disuade voters in crucial counties.

Maas predictably won overwhelmingly in Lichmond County, home to Lorenzi, the state's second-largest metro area and most reliably liberal city.

She also won easily in neighboring Bridgemont and Vertow Counties, which lean liberal, and in Quarry-Wan county, a battleground in south-central Carova.

But Byelle won the biggest prize, Giles County, the state's most populous.

The governor also won adjacent Critchley County, which together with Giles County encompasses the Carlingford-Carova City metro area, the state's largest.

Byelle won strong majorities in the Barriey-Barriey, Maidenville, Port Bay and Oliver metro areas, as well as suburban areas such as Uraqua County northeast of Lorenzi, and Beren County north of Carlingford.

The Byelle/Emser ticket dominated much of eastern Carova, although several sparsely-populated counties with signigifcant Indigenous Grassadellian populations backed Maas.

Counting ballots took several days, but Secretary of State Ed Chassee confirmed the counting is complete.

Anna Maas conceded the election this afternoon, while also hinting her political career is not finished.

"I'm disappointed we didn't win. Of course I wanted to win this race, and we came so close to winning which makes it all the more heart-breaking. But I'm proud of this campaign we ran. This campaign was about much more than winning an office. This campaign was about a movement. A movement of equality, and justice, and fair pay, and the other values that we Nationalists stand strong for. And I'm proud that we elevated these issues throughout the campaign, and I intend to continue fighting for them."

Byelle accepted Maas' concession at a press conference in Carova City.

"I'm honored that Carovans have graciously given me a second term as governor. It's a privilege to serve the people of this great state."

He acknowledged, however, that he did not receive a mandate, and pledged to win back the trust of those voters who supported his opponent.

"While I did receive a majority of the vote, this was a very close race. It's clear our state is divided, and I have a lot of work to do to restore faith in this administration and build trust with the people we serve," said Byelle.

Maas will continue to serve as mayor of Lorenzi until her term expires in 2016. It's unclear what her post-mayoral plans are.

Byelle will begin his second term as governor on January 26, 2015.

Before serving as governor, Byelle represented Carova in the Federal Senate for one term.

He defeated Gov. Dan McCrae (N), himself a former senator, in a landslide win in the 2010 election.

With the Conservative Party likely to regain a majority of governorships after last week's election, Byelle is mentioned as a possible successor to outgoing Governor General Christine Gabler (N), who lost her bid for re-election in Marchenay.