GRASSADELLIA CITY -- Former Damoign Governor Sid Hoffa has won the Conservative Party's primary election in his quest to reclaim his old position.
In a crowded race, Hoffa won with just under 20 percent of the vote. He was followed closely behind by former National Security Secretary Robert Austin, who secured 19.5 percent. And just like in the 2016 election, downstate Assemblywoman Pat Leemore took third place, with 18.6 percent.
Assemblyman Brian Tyker of central Damoign came in fourth place with 14.8 percent. The other five candidates received eight percent or less.
Under Damoign election laws, a candidate does not have to receive a majority of the votes in an election. A simple plurality is enough to be elected or win a party's nomination.
However, this year, concerns about the Coronavirus pandemic presented challenges to the normal voting process.
Concerned the pandemic would discourage people from voting, party leaders voted to allow mail-in votes for all voters for the first time.
In another historic first, the party's board of directors also voted to allow ranked-choice or preferential voting.
This system, where voters pick their first choice candidate, then their second choice, then their third, etc., has never been used in a major, statewide race in Damoign before by either party.
All the votes that were initially cast for the other seven candidates besides Hoffa and Austin were re-tabulated and re-assigned to either Hoffa or Austin.
With all the votes recounted and alternate choices assigned, Hoffa earned 54% of the total votes, while Austin won 46 percent.
Though the results were non-binding, with a majority of voters choosing through the ranked choice process backing Hoffa, the former Grassadellia City mayor and governor was able to claim a mandate.
In a Facebook video on his page, Hoffa thanked Austin and the other candidates for a "lively" primary election. He turned his focus immediately on incumbent Governor Jenna Duvan (N), who is seeking re-election.
"We've had a hard-fought primary race," said Hoffa. "Now it's over. We can come together as a party and work together to beat the socialist Nationalists in December."
Duvan is not a socialist, but with the governor shutting down businesses and schools due to the Coronavirus in recent weeks, Conservative politicians have begun to use the label against her.
Hoffa's victory means he will face off against Duvan in the fall general election.
No recent polling has been done on the race, but a prior poll found Hoffa trailing Duvan.
Though her popularity has slipped during the virus somewhat, Duvan remains relatively popular, and has won praise from members of both parties for her proactive leadership during the outbreak.
Hoffa say Duvan is too focused on image and self-promoting her "Instagram, picture-perfect brand."
"We need a governor, not a social media star," Hoffa said in his Facebook video Tuesday night.
Duvan did not comment on Hoffa's securing of the CNS nomination.
Robert Austin did concede the race to Hoffa and offered an endorsement.
"Sid Hoffa knows this state well, and he cares about Damoign, and he has the leadership to take our state forward," said Austin.
The other Conservative gubernatorial candidates have all endorsed Hoffa.
-----**Official Results**-----
In a crowded race, Hoffa won with just under 20 percent of the vote. He was followed closely behind by former National Security Secretary Robert Austin, who secured 19.5 percent. And just like in the 2016 election, downstate Assemblywoman Pat Leemore took third place, with 18.6 percent.
Assemblyman Brian Tyker of central Damoign came in fourth place with 14.8 percent. The other five candidates received eight percent or less.
Under Damoign election laws, a candidate does not have to receive a majority of the votes in an election. A simple plurality is enough to be elected or win a party's nomination.
However, this year, concerns about the Coronavirus pandemic presented challenges to the normal voting process.
Concerned the pandemic would discourage people from voting, party leaders voted to allow mail-in votes for all voters for the first time.
In another historic first, the party's board of directors also voted to allow ranked-choice or preferential voting.
This system, where voters pick their first choice candidate, then their second choice, then their third, etc., has never been used in a major, statewide race in Damoign before by either party.
All the votes that were initially cast for the other seven candidates besides Hoffa and Austin were re-tabulated and re-assigned to either Hoffa or Austin.
With all the votes recounted and alternate choices assigned, Hoffa earned 54% of the total votes, while Austin won 46 percent.
Though the results were non-binding, with a majority of voters choosing through the ranked choice process backing Hoffa, the former Grassadellia City mayor and governor was able to claim a mandate.
In a Facebook video on his page, Hoffa thanked Austin and the other candidates for a "lively" primary election. He turned his focus immediately on incumbent Governor Jenna Duvan (N), who is seeking re-election.
"We've had a hard-fought primary race," said Hoffa. "Now it's over. We can come together as a party and work together to beat the socialist Nationalists in December."
Duvan is not a socialist, but with the governor shutting down businesses and schools due to the Coronavirus in recent weeks, Conservative politicians have begun to use the label against her.
Hoffa's victory means he will face off against Duvan in the fall general election.
No recent polling has been done on the race, but a prior poll found Hoffa trailing Duvan.
Though her popularity has slipped during the virus somewhat, Duvan remains relatively popular, and has won praise from members of both parties for her proactive leadership during the outbreak.
Hoffa say Duvan is too focused on image and self-promoting her "Instagram, picture-perfect brand."
"We need a governor, not a social media star," Hoffa said in his Facebook video Tuesday night.
Duvan did not comment on Hoffa's securing of the CNS nomination.
Robert Austin did concede the race to Hoffa and offered an endorsement.
"Sid Hoffa knows this state well, and he cares about Damoign, and he has the leadership to take our state forward," said Austin.
The other Conservative gubernatorial candidates have all endorsed Hoffa.
-----**Official Results**-----
| Candidates | Residence | Votes | Percentage | Counties Won |
| Sid Hoffa | Victoria | 420,298 | 19.91% | 14 |
| Robert Austin | Fairside | 412,289 | 19.53% | 7 |
| Pat Leemore | Bragdon | 393,622 | 18.65% | 13 |
| Brian Tyker | Riverton | 312,283 | 14.79% | 8 |
| John DeGallio | Tolston | 168,856 | 8.00% | 0 |
| Rob McCann | Gregorson | 131,852 | 6.25% | 6 |
| Andrew Liang | Eastholm | 121,851 | 5.77% | 0 |
| Kim Camden | Kinslow | 112,587 | 5.33% | 0 |
| Rob Poldashi | Larche | 37,418 | 1.77% | 0 |
| Total | 2,111,056 | |||
| Ranked Choice Voting Results -- Non-Binding | ||||
| Sid Hoffa | 1,130,605 | 53.56% | ||
| Robert Austin | 980,451 | 46.44% | ||
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