Isaak Slooter will not run for re-election in 2020

NESTLEY, NP -- Senator Isaak Slooter, a Conservative, will not seek re-election in 2020, he announced today.

The two-term senator, first elected in 2008 and easily re-elected in 2014, does not want to be a career politician, he said.

"I never came to Mavocke intending to stay here until I die. I have other plans, other things that are important in my life," he said in an interview in his office, announcing his decision.

"I have been so honored to be a senator for the state of New Portsmouth, and I'm proud of the work I've done with my colleagues here from both parties. But it's time to pass the torch, it's time for someone else to represent our state."

A prominent Evangelical Christian, Slooter, age 56, has been a strong social conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage.

However, he's been moderate on issues like the environment, immigration and health care, and has frequently voted with Nationalists.

His decision to step down means Conservatives will have an open seat in a notoriously competitive battleground state.

No candidates have announced their candidacy yet on either side, but both parties expect a flood of potential contenders.

Slooter did not say what his post-Senate plans are.

"I'm still figuring that out right now, so I don't have an answer for you. But I will enjoy spending more time with my family, that's going to be my top priority."

His fellow New Portsmouth senators reacted with surprise but admiration.

"Isaak Slooter has served our state for the last twelve years, and he's done so with integrity, kindness, and a spirit of collaboration," said Conservative Sen. Jacqueline Bosseau, in a written statement.

Nationalist Senator Jean Larae Dowd praised Slooter as "highly effective at bringing both parties together."

"Often when there's an impasse in the Senate, it's Senator Slooter who is bringing the opposing sides together and trying to negotiate compromise, and that will be missed," said Dowd.

Democratic-Reformist Senator Ayden Benning, himself a former Nationalist and Conservative before ending up in the DR camp, said Slooter will be missed for his positive attitude and his bipartisanship.

"The man is genuine, he's sincere, like many of us, he came here to Mavocke to make a difference and to make our country stronger. And he's done that. I will miss working with him," said Benning.

Leandra Kemmes in strong position heading into 2020

MAINE CITY, Ara. -- The 2020 elections are shaping up to bring many competitive races.

But Armana Governor Leandra Kemmes, a first-term Nationalist, is likely to coast to re-election, according to a recent series of opinion polls.

Kemmes, a moderate Nationalist, remains popular in the Coalwood state.

She has high approval from Nationalists, Independents, and even many Conservatives.

Kemmes has steered away from contentious social issues and has focused on bread-and-butter issues like the economy, transportation and coastal erosion mitigation.

Under her leadership, the state's economy has grown, primarily in the southern half, where three-quarters of the state's population resides.

And the governor has avoided major missteps and gaffes.

Her strong popularity has discouraged prominent Conservatives from challenging her in the 2020 election.

Former Assemblyman Dave Charm, who ran against Kemmes in 2016, has ruled out a rematch.

Former Senator Dana Glow, who narrowly lost his Senate seat in 2016, has also passed on a bid.

Only three long-shot Conservative candidates have expressed interest in challenging Kemmes.

Mike Holt, who narrowly lost a Senate race in 2016 to Nationalist Emily Burkhart, is said to be considering a run.

Tom Ungerhart, mayor of Otter Creek, a suburb of Mavocke, is also said to have his eye on the governorship.

And finally, businessman Bob Hefner of Westhorpe is interested.

But polls conducted last week for the Conservative Party show that Kemmes would trounce all three contenders.

Kemmes would crush Holt 57-39 percent. Ungerhart performs better against Kemmes but still comes far short; she would defeat him 52-45 percent.

Polling on Hefner is not done yet, but an earlier poll from November found more than 80% of respondents had never heard of Hefner.

In short, no Conservative candidate comes close to beating Kemmes in polls.

Ungerhart has the best shot, but still has a ways to go.

The moderate mayor is well-known in the Mavocke area but struggles with name recognition in the rest of the state.

His more centrist views appeal to independents, but Leandra Kemmes is also a centrist. The poll finds independent voters breaking even for both candidates.

There is one upside for the Conservatives, however.

The party commissioned a poll on the 2020 Senate race. Incumbent Serap Figaori (N) is up for re-election, and in a hypothetical match up against Conservative Andy Fulbright, Figaori trails 46% to 50% for Fulbright.

Fulbright is a political newcomer and the son of former senator Dale Fulbright.

He has yet to announce his candidacy, but the positive polling results are said to have convinced the younger Fulbright he can win against a popular but divisive NAT incumbent.

Privately, however, top CNS party leaders are urging the party to write off Armana and invest resources in other states where they have a better chance of winning.

"There is no way we can beat Leandra Kemmes," said one top party strategist, who asked for anonymity because discussing the party's internal strategy might jeopardize business, told GNN.

"Any Conservative who thinks they can win against Leandra Kemmes is either not very smart or smoking something," the strategist added.

Kemmes' campaign declined to comment for this article, but state NAT party leaders expressed strong confidence.

"We are fortunate to have an immensely popular governor, Leandra Kemmes, and we're confident that Senator Serap Figaori will also win re-election," said Vanita Bynum, deputy director of the state NAT party.

A spokesman for Figaori said the progressive senator, who was first elected on a strong left-wing wave, will continue to put progressive values first.

"Senator Figaori is not going to change his positions or moderate his views just to win an election. He is who he is and he will stand up for the progressive values Armanans care about," said spokesman Garrity Hanton.

Tony Ritonio: Liberal politicians trash Donald Trump to fire up left-wing supporters

LAMBERTH, Kal. -- Since losing re-election in the 2018 election, former Kalnier governor Tony Ritonio has largely kept silent and stayed out of the headlines.

After his shocking defeat, Ritonio went back to overseeing his restaurant and real estate company. He declined offers to appear on national television and repeatedly rebuffed interview requests from top media outlets.

But Ritonio has recently re-emerged.

Over the weekend, he penned a column for the Grassadellian Media Foundation, a Conservative-aligned news organization.

In his op-ed, Ritonio called US President Donald Trump a "dumb ass" who "probably deserves to be impeached."

But despite Trump's abrasive personality, the US president is "right on the issues."

"Donald Trump himself is a cringe-worthy person. But many of his policies are actually good," wrote Ritonio.

He pointed to Trump's pro-business and tax-cut policies.

"The man knows how to grow an economy, and he's delivering a strong economy for the American people," Ritonio wrote.


Trump was right to end the US-Iran nuclear deal, Ritonio said, but Trump's order to assassinate Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani was "not well thought out."

"Does he lie? Yes. Does he play to people's most basic, nationalist, right-wing instincts? Yes. Does he belittle his opponents and act like a child? Yes," said Ritonio.

"But he is restoring the American economy, he's restoring America's position in the world, and he's cracking down on illegal immigration. These are three issues that our Grassadellian leaders have failed to do," wrote Ritonio.

As for Trump's impeachment and his Ukraine scandal, Ritonio said Trump "almost certainly acted unethically, if not illegally."

"But left-wing Grassadellian politicians such as President Jim McCaren, Damoign Senator Deborah Kay, and others, have attacked Donald Trump to advance their own agendas," he wrote.

"Grassadellia's liberal elites are injecting themselves into US politics because trashing Donald Trump wins them points with their left-wing supporters."

"We need to stay out of US politics. We have enough drama of our own here in this country," wrote Ritonio.

When asked for a response to Ritonio's column, a Collester spokesman gave a curt response.

"President McCaren will not take foreign policy advice from a one-term governor who has no foreign policy experience," said spokesman Matt Haber.

Sen. Deborah Kay (N-Damoign) was unaware of Ritonio's mentioning of her in his column, but once informed, the senator said on Twitter that "like everything Tony Ritonio says, his latest column is irrelevant."

Ritonio's column comes the same weekend that he signed a contract with the STAR Network and with the Chamberlain Network as a contributor.

His recent return to the political dialogue has many speculating the former governor is preparing for another run for office in 2022.

Ritonio has repeatedly declined to say whether he will seek a rematch in 2022 with Nationalist Nick Hall.

Elizabeth Graham will run for N. Ceona governor, Cozier may seek Senate seat

LAWTON, N. Ceona -- After months of speculation, sources close to North Ceona Senator Elizabeth Graham say she has made a decision on her political future.

Graham, a moderate Nationalist, will seek the state's open governorship in 2020, friends close to the senator say.

Graham had been toying with running for governor for years but finally sees 2020 as her opportunity.

With term-limited Governor Tom Cozier (Conservative) leaving his post, the seat will be open and up for grabs.

And should Graham lose the race for governor, she can still keep her Senate seat, which expires in 2024.

A strong candidate known for her bipartisanship and avoidance of divisive social issues, Graham would be a strong contender for governor.

North Ceona is a Conservative-leaning state, but Graham's centrist record plays well.

She will have to get past one major primary opponent, however.

Former state Attorney General John Ennis, who unsuccessfully challenged Cozier in 2016, is said to be considering a second run for governor in 2020.

The Conservative side is less clear.

Lt. Governor Lyle McDuggery declined to run for governor and will instead retire in 2020.

Secretary of State Bill Stacey has announced his intention to run.

But two other top-tier Conservative candidates are still considering running for governor too.

Former Senator Pete Deetch, who was ousted from office in 2018 after making racist comments, is "seriously considering" a run for governor, sources close to him say.

Another former senator, Ty Jaimeson, is also mulling a bid.

Both men would be formidable candidates, should they choose to run.

Recent polling from the University of North Ceona has shown intriguing results.

Bill Stacey is relatively even with John Ennis (48% to 50%) and with Elizabeth Graham (48% to 49%).

Those polls also found Pete Deetch trailing both Ennis (44% to 53%) and Graham (44% to 54%).

Ty Jaimeson, however, crushes Elizabeth Graham 53% to 44% and leads Ennis 52% to 45%, respectively.

Meanwhile, outgoing Governor Tom Cozier is considering his political future.

Sources close to him say he is weighing a run for Senate, potentially challenging Nationalist incumbent Anthony Campanelli, who is up for re-election in 2020.

A recent poll found Cozier leading Campanelli 51%-47% in a hypothetical match-up.

Conservative incumbent Ken Estall is also up for re-election in 2020, though no top-name Nationalists have emerged to oppose him.

Friends of Pete Deetch say the former senator may opt against a gubernatorial bid and run for the Senate again; he'll take whichever path he thinks he's most likely to win.

No matter what happens, North Ceona won't be the quiet, sleepy state in 2020 that it usually is during election season.