After incredibly close race and two recounts, Wilkonshire finally has a new governor

CNS candidate concedes after 'roller coaster' race

NEW DUNSLEE, Wilk. – Congratulations, you won the governorship.

No…wait…you didn’t...

Nevermind, you really did win after all.

That’s what Tom Durick, the Nationalist candidate for Wilkonshire governor, was told by the state’s elections overseer over the past almost two months.

Mr. Durick, a businessman from northeast Wilkonshire and political newcomer, was originally declared the victor in the incredibly close election between he and Christon Mayor Tara Hadley (C).

After more than two weeks of counting ballots, Wilkonshire Secretary of State Hannah Meade declared Durick the winner, reporting that he earned 50.06% to Ms. Hadleys’ 49.94%, or 2,125,807 votes to 2,120,132, respectively.

Durick held off declaring victory initially, but eventually said the numbers were firmly in his favor and subsequently held a “victory rally” with supporters in Bradford, the state’s second-largest city.

The very next day, Tara Hadley’s campaign and the Wilkonshire Conservative Party jointly-filed a lawsuit in Neighley County Superior Court in suburban New Dunslee, challenging election results in almost two dozen counties across the state.

“There is great concern that not every ballot is being counted, some ballots were counted incorrectly or perhaps more than once,” said Hadley campaign manager Tom Price. “We need to ensure the validity of this election, if not for Tara Hadley and Tom Durick but for the people of Wilkonshire, so they can have faith in the elections process.”

Secretary of State Meade told Judge Alan Bonano that the lawsuit was unnecessary because Wilkonshire state election laws required an automatic recount of votes if the difference between the top two candidates is less than one-half of one percent, as it was in this race.

The secretary of state’s office proceeded to administer a statutory recount of the votes, conducted by automated computerized counting machines.

Once the recount was completed, to the astonishment of observers on both sides, Ms. Hadley was confirmed the winner by a vote of 50.04% to 49.96%, or 2,151,976 votes to Durick’s 2,148,776.

Without missing a beat, the Durick campaign, with the help of the Wilkonshire Nationalist party and the Nationalist Governors Association (NATGA), filed a lawsuit in Engleton County Superior Court in suburban Christon, requesting a hand recount.

While more expensive to conduct than a machine recount, a hand recount is considered the most accurate (albeit time-consuming) method of counting ballots.

“I think what we both want is for all the ballots to be counted, whether it’s overseas ballots, absentee, provisional, etc. Both sides want to see the votes counted accurately and fairly,” said Mr. Durick at a news conference in Bradford on February 27.

Lead by Meade, the secretary of state, the hand recount took place and after accounting for additional overseas votes and provisional ballots that were later certified, Mr. Durick came out on top again, and was declared the winner for a second time.

The hand recount found Durick winning with 50.13% to 49.87%, or 2,182,799 votes to Hadley’s 2,171,167 votes.

That left Hadley with few legal recourses. She could appeal the decision to the Wilkonshire State Supreme Court, but that would prove costly, take a long time and would not ensure a victory.

After discussing the issue with her advisors and party leaders, Ms. Hadley decided to end her legal challenge and accept the results.

“It’s very painful to lose an election that is this close, especially after having won one version of the vote counting,” said a distressed Hadley at a Christon press conference Monday.

“But Wilkonshire needs a governor. The people of Wilkonshire want to know who their next governor is, the state agencies need to know for the sake of continuity, and the private industries need to know for the sake of planning. We need some closure on this issue, and that’s why I have decided that a lengthy, drawn-out legal fight with only a fifty-percent chance of winning would not be in the best interest of the state of Wilkonshire.

“I am ending my campaign’s legal challenge today, and I concede the race to Tom Durick,” said Ms. Hadley, looking visibly disheartened.

“This race has been extremely close, and it’s been a roller coaster from election night until now. But I have faith in our elections system. I think the secretary of state’s office did a fine job. I don’t think this was an issue of incompetence or errors in the process, but just the case of a very close election. Sometimes that happens. And we could draw it out further and keep fighting it in the court system, but that wouldn’t help the average Wilkonshirean, who is struggling to pay their bills. That would only create more political theater and drama. And I don’t want to win under those circumstances. If I won after a long court battle, I wouldn’t have a mandate anyway, it’d be very hard to get things done in Provincetown. So I feel this is the best decision,” said Hadley.

She added that she called Mr. Durick and he was gracious in victory.

“Tom was very nice, very respectful. He hasn’t always been that way through this campaign, but it’s politics. You say things you don’t mean. And I think our conversation earlier today was very warm, cordial and sincere. He wished me well, and I wished him well and I think we both meant it genuinely.”

Durick later publicly thanked Hadley for conceding and praised her for losing with dignity.

“A lot of politicians would have had a bit of a tantrum, but Tara is handling this with grace and poise, and she has been very gracious in her concession, and I thank her for her civility during this process,” said Durick. “This is a very emotional, very personal thing. Like Tara said, it really is an emotional roller coaster. It’s a lot of stress on you and your family and your staff. I think ending the legal fight now and accepting the hand recount results, which are the most accurate, is the best decision to make and I commend Tara for having conceded.”

The governor-elect added that it’s time to move on and get on with governing.

“I feel like we’ve lost a lot of time with this whole legal fight. I’m anxious to get to Provincetown and start governing, start tackling some of the issues that are so important to Wilkonshire families. We’re going to get to work immediately on building a strong economy, helping the unemployed, invigorating our cities and our transportation and infrastructure. There’s a lot of work to be done and I’m ready to get started on it. I hope the Conservative party will join with me and put this messy election behind us and unite for the sake of the people.”

Ms. Hadley did not comment on her future plans. She said she will continue in her role as mayor of Christon until the expiration of her term. And after that, “who knows,” she said.

“I think a nice, long, relaxing vacation in the Caribbean or some care-free tropical environment is definitely going to happen within the next few months,” said a laughing Hadley.