WILLIAMSTOWN, Tri. -- The crowded race for Trinton's governorship got more crowded today.
Assemblyman Tom Jamber, a centrist Nationalist from the north shore, announced his candidacy. He'll face former Attorney General and 2016 NAT nominee Troy Halver in the September 1 primary election.
On the Conservative side, former Senator Greg Baxter, who lose re-election in 2014, threw his hat into the ring.
Baxter will face another former senator, Kelsey Frascanio, as well as former gubernatorial nominee Jim Valoix, and current Assemblymen Bryan Kim and Mark Bronure.
Halver has a significant money edge over Jamber, but many NAT party elders are unenthused about his candidacy.
Having lost the 2016 election to Democratic-Reformist Marcus Edinough, some feel Halver is not strong enough to beat Edinough in 2020.
Halver has also come under fire from the progressive wing of the party for his more conservative views on the environment, police accountability and crime.
Though he is starting later and has less money, Jamber is more popular among a wider swath of the NAT party. Surrogates of his campaign say the assemblyman from the northern suburbs of Williamstown is a pragmatic leader; progressive enough to satisfy left-wing voters, but moderate enough to not alienate independent and conservative voters.
Jamber told the National Press Federation (NPF) he's running because he feels Marcus Edinough, Troy Halver and the CNS candidates are too conservative.
"Trinton is a Nationalist state. We have twice as many Nationalist voters as Conservative. And yet, our current governor, while he is progressive on some issues, remains very conservative on other issues. Troy Halver is not a mainstream Nationalist, he's quite conservative on many issues also. And the CNS candidates are extremely conservative," said Jamber.
"We need a governor who has strong, reliable, predictable Nationalist values. Someone who will lead our state in line with what the majority of voters want," he added.
Greg Baxter left office in 2014, having lost re-election to the NAT's Grace Kemp.
Since then, the former senator has worked in the private sector as a security analyst and consultant.
He told the Golden Shore Tribune newspaper he decided to run for governor because he felt the other candidates are not strong enough to defeat Marcus Edinough and Troy Halver.
"I have nothing but respect for Kelsey Frascanio and Jim Valoix and Bryan Kim and Mark Bronure. But I don't think any of them can win. That's why I decided to run. We need a winning candidate. They are fine people but we need a strong, tough candidate who can win and who can take on either Halver or Jamber, and Edinough."
According to Trinton law, a candidate must receive at least 40% of the popular vote in order to be elected governor.
If no candidate attains at least 40% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a run-off election.
Polling has consistently shown Nationalist Troy Halver winning a plurality in a three-way race against incumbent Gov. Marcus Edinough (DR) and Conservative candidates. However, every poll has found Halver falling short of the 40% minimum required to win out-right.
Because Jamber and Baxter just entered the race, polling on them has been limited.
It appears likely, however, that no matter who wins for each party, a run-off election is virtually guaranteed to ensue.
Asked about the developments in the race, Edinough told reporters he was aware of Jamber's entry into the race, but the governor said he was unaware Baxter even living in Trinton still.
"I haven't seen or heard anything from Greg Baxter since he lost in 2014. I wasn't even aware he was still living in the state," said a surprised Edinough.
The governor added he was surprised by the "volume" of candidates this election, but he is confident he will win re-election.
"The people of Trinton elected me twice as lieutenant governor, they elected me last time as governor. I think most Trintonians agree with me that both of the major parties are fundamentally flawed."
Assemblyman Tom Jamber, a centrist Nationalist from the north shore, announced his candidacy. He'll face former Attorney General and 2016 NAT nominee Troy Halver in the September 1 primary election.
On the Conservative side, former Senator Greg Baxter, who lose re-election in 2014, threw his hat into the ring.
Baxter will face another former senator, Kelsey Frascanio, as well as former gubernatorial nominee Jim Valoix, and current Assemblymen Bryan Kim and Mark Bronure.
Halver has a significant money edge over Jamber, but many NAT party elders are unenthused about his candidacy.
Having lost the 2016 election to Democratic-Reformist Marcus Edinough, some feel Halver is not strong enough to beat Edinough in 2020.
Halver has also come under fire from the progressive wing of the party for his more conservative views on the environment, police accountability and crime.
Though he is starting later and has less money, Jamber is more popular among a wider swath of the NAT party. Surrogates of his campaign say the assemblyman from the northern suburbs of Williamstown is a pragmatic leader; progressive enough to satisfy left-wing voters, but moderate enough to not alienate independent and conservative voters.
Jamber told the National Press Federation (NPF) he's running because he feels Marcus Edinough, Troy Halver and the CNS candidates are too conservative.
"Trinton is a Nationalist state. We have twice as many Nationalist voters as Conservative. And yet, our current governor, while he is progressive on some issues, remains very conservative on other issues. Troy Halver is not a mainstream Nationalist, he's quite conservative on many issues also. And the CNS candidates are extremely conservative," said Jamber.
"We need a governor who has strong, reliable, predictable Nationalist values. Someone who will lead our state in line with what the majority of voters want," he added.
Greg Baxter left office in 2014, having lost re-election to the NAT's Grace Kemp.
Since then, the former senator has worked in the private sector as a security analyst and consultant.
He told the Golden Shore Tribune newspaper he decided to run for governor because he felt the other candidates are not strong enough to defeat Marcus Edinough and Troy Halver.
"I have nothing but respect for Kelsey Frascanio and Jim Valoix and Bryan Kim and Mark Bronure. But I don't think any of them can win. That's why I decided to run. We need a winning candidate. They are fine people but we need a strong, tough candidate who can win and who can take on either Halver or Jamber, and Edinough."
According to Trinton law, a candidate must receive at least 40% of the popular vote in order to be elected governor.
If no candidate attains at least 40% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a run-off election.
Polling has consistently shown Nationalist Troy Halver winning a plurality in a three-way race against incumbent Gov. Marcus Edinough (DR) and Conservative candidates. However, every poll has found Halver falling short of the 40% minimum required to win out-right.
Because Jamber and Baxter just entered the race, polling on them has been limited.
It appears likely, however, that no matter who wins for each party, a run-off election is virtually guaranteed to ensue.
Asked about the developments in the race, Edinough told reporters he was aware of Jamber's entry into the race, but the governor said he was unaware Baxter even living in Trinton still.
"I haven't seen or heard anything from Greg Baxter since he lost in 2014. I wasn't even aware he was still living in the state," said a surprised Edinough.
The governor added he was surprised by the "volume" of candidates this election, but he is confident he will win re-election.
"The people of Trinton elected me twice as lieutenant governor, they elected me last time as governor. I think most Trintonians agree with me that both of the major parties are fundamentally flawed."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment