MAINE CITY -- Incumbent NAT Senator Duke Castlebury has been defeated by a fellow Nationalist in his primary race, the NPF confirms.
With all precincts reporting, Emily Burkart, a 37-year-old banking executive from Maine City, was leading Castlebury 53% to 47%, respectively.
Seeking his second term, Castlebury, 76, had long been criticized for his conservative voting record in the senate. Though a life-long Nationalist, the senator frequently votes with Conservatives, primarily on military and foreign policy issues.
Burkhart, who previously challenged Conservative Senator Chuck Danbury unsuccessfully in 2010, centered her campaign around fighting for progressive ideals.
"Senator Castlebury has served his country, and we thank him for that. But he is not a progressive. He does not have a progressive voting record. He sides with Conservatives time after time. We need a fresh, progressive voice in Mavocke representing our state," Burkhart said last week at a campaign rally in Reading Township northeast of Maine City.
She focused specifically on women's issues and the #MeToo movement, as well as climate change, education and a $15 minimum wage.
At her campaign party north of the city, she announced that Castlebury had called her and conceded.
"We again thank Senator Castlebury for his service to our state and to our country as a veteran," she said.
Castlebury, at a more subdued gathering two hours northeast of the city, said he will continue to fight for Armana and for Nationalist ideals.
"I recognize that the voters spoke tonight, and they decided to back my opponent, and I respect the voters' wishes. But I have always been and remain a strong supporter of the Nationalist party and the Nationalist ideals of taking care of the Grassadellian people first above and before everything else."
"While this defeat stings, it does not change my convictions or my belief in labor, in health care for everyone, in social welfare, in strengthening the middle class."
Despite being 76 years old, Castlebury said he is not ready to retire from politics, but didn't say if he would run for office again.
"I don't know, I really don't know, so I can't tell you what I'll do. But I do know I will stay involved. That may mean running for office again. Or it may mean giving speeches and supporting candidates who I believe are the right leaders for our state and our country. I don't know how I'll be involved, but I will continue to be involved."
Liberal groups strongly backed Burkhart's campaign, while fellow centrist and moderate Nationalist politicians supported Castlebury.
"There aren't many of us moderate Nationalists left in the Senate these days," South Ceona Senator Vic Chambers told the NPF last week, while at a campaign fundraiser for Castlebury. "We need more people like Duke, who are willing to compromise and work with the other side."
Armana's senior senator and fellow foreign policy hawk Chuck Danbury lamented Castlebury's loss.
"Duke is a good man, and it's a shame that the Nationalist party is pushing out moderate leaders like him," Danbury told Maine City's largest newspaper last week.
Danbury himself is a moderate Conservative who often crosses over to vote with the NAT on key votes. He has faced similar criticism from the right flank of his party for being too liberal and too cozy with the other party.
"I've been on the receiving end of that stuff before just like Duke. I know what it's like to have the hardliners in your party pissed off at you and trying to push you out. I survived and I was hoping Duke would too because he's a good leader, we need him in the senate. But the Nationalist voters of Armana have had their say and they chose Emily Burkhart, so they've chosen a different course," said Danbury.
Fellow Armana Senator Dana Glow, also a moderate Conservative like Danbury, tweeted that he also was disappointed with Castlebury's defeat.
"Sad to hear about my friend and colleague Duke Castlebury. He is a good man who has done great things in the senate. He will be missed by members from both parties," Glow tweeted.
If she wins the December general election against Conservative state lawmaker Mike Holt - which she is strongly favored to do - Burkhart will join Danbury, Glow and Serap Figaori, a fellow progressive who holds Armana's fourth senate seat.
Figaori tweeted out his support for Castlebury and his congratulations for Burkhart.
"I have enjoyed every moment working with Duke Castlebury. On behalf of all Armanans, I thank him for his service. And I know Emily Burkhart will also make a great senator our state," he tweeted, adding the hashtag #OnToDecember.
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas also honored Castlebury in a post on Facebook.
"Duke Castlebury will forever be remembered as someone who served his country, who fought for liberty, who fought for the underdog and the middle class, who fought for social welfare and a social democratic tradition in this country. It has been an honor to work with him and I speak for all Nationalist senators when I say 'Thank You Duke,' your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten."
With all precincts reporting, Emily Burkart, a 37-year-old banking executive from Maine City, was leading Castlebury 53% to 47%, respectively.
Seeking his second term, Castlebury, 76, had long been criticized for his conservative voting record in the senate. Though a life-long Nationalist, the senator frequently votes with Conservatives, primarily on military and foreign policy issues.
Burkhart, who previously challenged Conservative Senator Chuck Danbury unsuccessfully in 2010, centered her campaign around fighting for progressive ideals.
"Senator Castlebury has served his country, and we thank him for that. But he is not a progressive. He does not have a progressive voting record. He sides with Conservatives time after time. We need a fresh, progressive voice in Mavocke representing our state," Burkhart said last week at a campaign rally in Reading Township northeast of Maine City.
She focused specifically on women's issues and the #MeToo movement, as well as climate change, education and a $15 minimum wage.
At her campaign party north of the city, she announced that Castlebury had called her and conceded.
"We again thank Senator Castlebury for his service to our state and to our country as a veteran," she said.
Castlebury, at a more subdued gathering two hours northeast of the city, said he will continue to fight for Armana and for Nationalist ideals.
"I recognize that the voters spoke tonight, and they decided to back my opponent, and I respect the voters' wishes. But I have always been and remain a strong supporter of the Nationalist party and the Nationalist ideals of taking care of the Grassadellian people first above and before everything else."
"While this defeat stings, it does not change my convictions or my belief in labor, in health care for everyone, in social welfare, in strengthening the middle class."
Despite being 76 years old, Castlebury said he is not ready to retire from politics, but didn't say if he would run for office again.
"I don't know, I really don't know, so I can't tell you what I'll do. But I do know I will stay involved. That may mean running for office again. Or it may mean giving speeches and supporting candidates who I believe are the right leaders for our state and our country. I don't know how I'll be involved, but I will continue to be involved."
Liberal groups strongly backed Burkhart's campaign, while fellow centrist and moderate Nationalist politicians supported Castlebury.
"There aren't many of us moderate Nationalists left in the Senate these days," South Ceona Senator Vic Chambers told the NPF last week, while at a campaign fundraiser for Castlebury. "We need more people like Duke, who are willing to compromise and work with the other side."
Armana's senior senator and fellow foreign policy hawk Chuck Danbury lamented Castlebury's loss.
"Duke is a good man, and it's a shame that the Nationalist party is pushing out moderate leaders like him," Danbury told Maine City's largest newspaper last week.
Danbury himself is a moderate Conservative who often crosses over to vote with the NAT on key votes. He has faced similar criticism from the right flank of his party for being too liberal and too cozy with the other party.
"I've been on the receiving end of that stuff before just like Duke. I know what it's like to have the hardliners in your party pissed off at you and trying to push you out. I survived and I was hoping Duke would too because he's a good leader, we need him in the senate. But the Nationalist voters of Armana have had their say and they chose Emily Burkhart, so they've chosen a different course," said Danbury.
Fellow Armana Senator Dana Glow, also a moderate Conservative like Danbury, tweeted that he also was disappointed with Castlebury's defeat.
"Sad to hear about my friend and colleague Duke Castlebury. He is a good man who has done great things in the senate. He will be missed by members from both parties," Glow tweeted.
If she wins the December general election against Conservative state lawmaker Mike Holt - which she is strongly favored to do - Burkhart will join Danbury, Glow and Serap Figaori, a fellow progressive who holds Armana's fourth senate seat.
Figaori tweeted out his support for Castlebury and his congratulations for Burkhart.
"I have enjoyed every moment working with Duke Castlebury. On behalf of all Armanans, I thank him for his service. And I know Emily Burkhart will also make a great senator our state," he tweeted, adding the hashtag #OnToDecember.
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas also honored Castlebury in a post on Facebook.
"Duke Castlebury will forever be remembered as someone who served his country, who fought for liberty, who fought for the underdog and the middle class, who fought for social welfare and a social democratic tradition in this country. It has been an honor to work with him and I speak for all Nationalist senators when I say 'Thank You Duke,' your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment