Kosevich announces run for Biereland governor, will challenge Ben Jordan in primary race

BROOKINGS  -- Former Biereland politician Peter Kosevich, a Conservative who was an appointed governor in the 1990s, will run for his old position in 2022.

Mr. Kosevich was never popularly-elected governor during his previous tenure. Instead, he was appointed governor by the state's legislature.

But now he's asking the voters of Biereland to elect him to his former position.

And he's running as a Conservative -- a direct challenge to incumbent Conservative Governor Ben Jordan, who is running for an unprecedented third-term.

"No governor -- from either party -- should serve three terms consecutively. That is too much power concentrated in one person for too long of a time. We need a break. We need new leadership. It's critical that we have new perspectives and allow access for new people to lead our state," said Kosevich in a video posted on his campaign social media accounts.

Kosevich said he largely agrees with Ben Jordan's positions, but thinks good-government principles should limit governors to two back-to-back terms. 

Jordan's campaign has not officially commented on Kosevich's entrance into the 2022 race, but Adrienne Martin, who works for the Jordan campaign, took to Twitter to criticize Kosevich's candidacy.

"Biereland voters want a strong, bold Conservative governor who doesn't bend to Nationalists' demands or to political correctness," Martin tweeted.

"The last thing Biereland voters want," she added, "is a 'moderate,' '1990s,' faux-'Conservative' in the governor's mansion."

No Nationalists have officially entered the Biereland governor's race yet, but former Gov. San Bartholomew is considered a leading potential candidate.

Businessman Joel Gruenwalder, farmer Derry Clayton, and former Federal Senator Steve Kolotano are also potential candidates.

Ben Jordan has been the state's governor since 2015.

David Brown rules out governor election rematch with Dan Rattner

MANCHESTER, Mar. -- Former Marchenay Governor David Brown (C) will not run for his old job in 2022.

Brown served as governor from 2015-2019, and lost his attempt at re-election to Nationalist and former Attorney General Dan Rattner.

Political observers in the state wondered if Brown would seek a rematch with Ratner in the 2022 election, but Brown ended all speculation Saturday, when he posted on Twitter and Facebook that he had "no interest" in running for governor again.

"It was a privilege and honor to serve as Marchenay's governor before, but now that I am back in the private sector, I am busy with my work. I have no interest in returning to the toxic political rat race," he wrote.

Brown's decision clears the field for other Conservative candidates, like businessmen Burke Azurjean, Tom Marino, Bill Kendle, state Sens. Mike Shannon and Mike Grimsby, former gubernatorial candidate David LaSaria, and Bruce McGruen, a twice-failed candidate for Deschire Attorney General who recently moved back to his native state of Marchenay and announced a gubernatorial bid.

Current Attorney General Mary Beth Halter already declined to seek the governorship in 2022, and will instead run for re-election to her post.

Incumbent Gov. Dan Rattner has modest approval ratings. He's taken some heat over his stringent COVID-19 restrictions and shut-downs.

But Marchenay's NAT-tilt will aid him as he runs for re-election next year.

Conservatives are also targeting Marchenay's Secretary of State seat, after Kathy Bernanski, the previous incumbent, was appointed to the Federal Senate to fill the vacant seat of Joseph Milhaughley.

Conservative Ari Havarnath has already raised $1.3 million for her campaign.

Milhaughley was a long-time federal senator who was appointed Federal Secretary of State by President Jim McCaren.

Kalnier Gov. Nick Hall polling under 50% against potential challengers

LAMBERTH, Kln. -- Allies of Kalnier Gov. Nick Hall are getting nervous after a new series of polls show the incumbent governor with less than 50% support from voters.

The polls, conducted on behalf of the Kalnier Conservative Party by the University of Kalnier and Lamberth Regent newspaper, found Hall tied in head-to-head match-ups with Attorney General Paul DeNario, former Gov. Tony Ritonio, and Assemblyman Mark Radowski.

In all three polls, Hall and his CNS opponents earned 49% each.

Political analysts commonly say incumbents who poll under 50% are in danger of losing re-election. 

None of the three Conservative candidates featured in the polls have announced their candidacy yet.

All eyes are on Ritonio, who narrowly lost to Hall in a very close contest in 2018.

Ritonio has remained mum about whether he plans to run against Hall again in 2022.

Hall is up for re-election in 2022, and at age 42, his youth and energy have inspired many Kalnierans.

But constantly-changing COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants, schools, and businesses, and economic uncertainty have eroded the young governor's support.

While the state's economy is still reeling from the pandemic's effects, Kalnier has fared better economically than most states during COVID. 

The unemployment rate stands at 4.7% and wages have increased by 1.8%, according to numbers released Monday by the Kalnier Dept. of Labor.

Inflation remains a major challenge for Hall, particularly in the state's two largest cities, Lamberth and Gladwell, where the cost of living is significantly higher than the national average.

Conservatives say Hall's biggest vulnerability, though, is his dismissal of the anti-vaccine movement.

The governor has been staunchly pro-vaccine, and as a state, Kalnier has been strongly supportive of the vaccine also, with 78% of residents vaccinated.

But Hall has repeatedly made critical remarks about anti-vaccine Kalnierans.

"Most of these people (anti-vaccine Kalnierans) are not educated, they're susceptible to conspiracy theories, they're easily manipulated and they believe anything they hear on conservative media or on social media. So we can't negotiate with these people," Hall told reporters in September.

After angry parents filled a school board meeting in suburban St. Pierre County southwest of Lamberth, to protest mask requirements in public schools, Hall dismissed them, saying, "We don't negotiate with terrorists."

When anti-vaccine and anti-mask organizers held a "mask-free" Octoberfest event in Pasquel County, southeast of Lamberth, with thousands of people in attendance, Hall criticized those who attended the event.

"Any parent who takes their child without a mask to a large event with thousands of people in close contact is really, frankly, unfit to be a parent," Hall told reporters.

In response, anti-vaccine and anti-mask protesters launched more protests, including one attended by hundreds of people just two blocks from Hall's south Lamberth home.

State police had to call in extra officers for crowd control.

Signs with catchy and satirical slogans like, "Uneducated and proud of it!" and "Go ahead. Try to take away this 'unfit' mother's kids, I dare you," accompanied by a picture of a handgun, were seen at rallies and saturated all over social media.

"Calling concerned parents, who want to protect their children from an untested vaccine, 'unfit' and 'uneducated' is about as arrogant and elitist as you can get," said Conservative political strategist Glenn Rothney.

"The economy is hurting Nick Hall, but what's hurting him most is his own arrogance and his belief that only vaccinated people with a college degree are intelligent," added Rothney.

Nationalists admit Hall is on treacherous ground politically, but it's not just the culture wars over the COVID vaccine and masks.

"Kalnier is a battleground state. Every governor's election we've had since statehood has been close. Nick Hall won in 2018 by only 1.5 percent, and that was before COVID. So the fact that he's running neck-and-neck in the polls really is not that newsworthy," said Ken Langston, a former candidate for governor and prominent NAT donor.

Part of Hall's challenge, Langston said, is the demographics and political differences within Kalnier.

Hall's progressive policies remain widely popular in liberal population centers like Lamberth, Gladwell, Lockport, and Fall Beach.

But in rural counties, like most Nationalists, Hall struggles for support.

Voters in Kirkenelly and Bellock have also swung heavily against him, the polls show.

Experts from both political parties say the election will likely come down to the suburbs of Kalnier's major metro areas.

"Since statehood, Kalnier's elections have always been contingent on the suburbs," said Langston.

Urban voters in Parma, Gladwell, and Lamberth heavily favor the NAT, as do more working-class, smaller cities like Katherine, Blackpool, Caltrey and Hubble.

But Conservatives have found success in the western suburbs of Lamberth and the southern and eastern suburbs of Gladwell. They also do well in suburban Kellogg County west of Parma, and in regional cities like Elliston, Kimberly and Cammais.

"Both parties, if they want to win, they have to win St. Pierre County, they have to win Parma County, they have to win Graeme County and Drogen County," Langston said, emphasizing the swing suburban areas.

"If your message falters in the suburbs, you're not going to win."

A spokesperson for Hall's campaign told GBC's Brad Donohue that the poll numbers do not reflect voters' true sentiment.

"We are confident that Governor Hall will be easily re-elected in 2022," said Hall campaign media director Josh Hankins.

"Governor Hall is right on all the issues. He believes the COVID vaccines are effective, he believes in a world-class education system, he has worked to make Kalnier's economy one of the strongest in the country with unprecedented growth in tech, aerospace and green jobs, he believes in protecting the environment from wealthy exploiters, he believes in fighting climate change, he believes in providing a social safety net for Kalnierans who are struggling and vulnerable.

"On issue after issue, Nick Hall is perfectly in sync with Kalnierans. They support his agenda and he never takes their support for granted," said Hankins.

Eight Attorneys General sue McCaren Administration over vaccine mandate

CAROVA CITY, Car. -- One third of the country's state attorneys general have filed a joint lawsuit challenging President Jim McCaren's vaccine mandate for federal employees.

Back in October, McCaren signed an executive order requiring all employees of the federal government, and employees of contractors who work for the federal government, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Under the order, employees have until the end of February 2022 to comply.

But eight attorneys general -- all Conservatives -- say McCaren's vaccine requirement is unconstitutional.

They filed the lawsuit today in federal court.

Because Carova Attorney General Sean Travern is the lead litigant, the lawsuit was filed in the western district of Carova, based in Carova City.

In documents submitted  to the court clerk, Travern and his seven colleagues say McCaren's vaccine mandate is "a grave violation of Grassadellians' constitutional rights," and "an egregious overreaching of presidential power."

Federal Attorney General Susan Pittman, acting on behalf of the McCaren Administration, defended the President's order, writing in a brief that McCaren's vaccine mandate is "in line with previous actions by previous presidents."

"There is nothing unconstitutional about presidents issuing executive orders -- presidents of both parties do so all the time."

Pittman added that, in the interest of public health, the president had the responsibility to protect federal workers.

"As the leader of the executive branch of government, it is imperative that President McCaren protect all federal employees, and in these extraordinary circumstances of a deadly, contagious, global pandemic, President McCaren took the right and legal step of issuing a vaccine mandate."

McCaren himself was asked earlier this week about his vaccine mandate, telling reporters gathered at Collester that Conservative complaints about the vaccine requirement are "political theater."

"[Conservative attorneys general] know this order is legal, they know it's constitutional. This lawsuit they're filing is just to impress their base, it's just meant to show their opposition to me. And to vaccines, it turns out," said McCaren.

Speaking to the media after the lawsuit was filed, Roddenshire Attorney General Scott Bracken said he personally supports the COVID vaccine, but doesn't believe government should force vaccinations on the public.

"I got the vaccine. I trust it, I think it's good to get it. But it is blatantly unconstitutional for government to forcibly compel citizens, through threat of their jobs and livelihoods, to get the vaccine. That flies in the face of the constitution," said Bracken.

No NAT attorneys general signed on to the lawsuit, and four Conservative attorneys general -- Paul DeNario (Kln.), Chris Stryde (Kens.), Mary Beth Halter (Mar.), and Carol Campbell-Doros (Nwp.) declined to join their fellow Conservatives in filing the lawsuit.

Monomi Attorney General Jon Liu (N) took to Twitter to vent his frustration at the lawsuit.

"This lawsuit is a waste of time. It's established law that the president has executive order powers. They know they're not going to win this one, they're just tying up the court system with a frivolous lawsuit," Liu tweeted.

Preliminary hearings for the case are set for Tuesday, November 23. No judge has been assigned to the case yet.

Andrew Fulbright: Bob Hefner was a 'millstone around my neck' in 2020 campaign

MARCHANDE, ARA -- The 2020 elections were almost a year ago, but some candidates are still reflecting on the results.

Armana Senate candidate Andrew Fulbright, a moderate, young Conservative who challenged NAT Senator Serap Figaori, is one of those who is still reflecting on the 2020 race.

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, Mr. Fulbright, the son of former Gov. Dale Fulbright, was polling even with the liberal Figaori.

But when all the votes were tallied, Fulbright came up short, losing to Figaori 46%-51%.

In a radio interview this week with conservative talk show host Lew Fitzgibbons, Fulbright was asked why he lost by a still respectable but unexpectedly large margin in his 2020 race.

He attributed part of his loss to the fact that Armana is a blue state.

"It's hard for Conservatives to win in Armana, there are so many more NAT voters, you have to get many of them to cross over and support you," said Fulbright.

But the main reason he lost so astoundingly?

Conservative gubernatorial candidate Bob Hefner.

"I think the main reason I did so poorly was because it wasn't just me running. I was sharing the Conservative ballot with someone who was basically a self-described Donald Trump-type candidate, and that turned off a lot of Independent voters, it turned off a lot of traditionally Conservative voters, and it definitely turned off and motivated a lot of NAT voters," said Fulbright.

"It was hard to overcome that wave of NAT voters. The Conservative turnout just wasnt strong enough to carry me across the finish line."

The 'someone' Fulbright was referring to was Conservative gubernatorial nominee Hefner, an outspoken businessman who campaigned on a populist, anti-politically correct platform.

Fulbright didn't initially mention Hefner by name, but did so when pressed for specifics by host Lew Fitzgibbons.

"Who are you referring to?" asked Fitzgibbons."Are you referring to Bob Hefner?"

"Who else?" Fulbright replied curtly.

Mr. Fulbright went on to take personal responsibility for his loss.

"At the end of the day, it was my campaign, I was the candidate, I lost the race and had I ran a better campaign, I would've won. But I didn't adequately distance myself from Bob Hefner, I was trying to tread a fine line between satisfying the base voters and swing voters, and looking back, I should have just stood up and spoken my mind more assertively and let the chips fall where they may."

"I should have been my authentic self and if the base, hard-line Hefner supporters don't vote for me, so be it. But I didn't want to offend those voters, so I stayed quiet on Hefner and my opponent on the NAT effectively tied me to Hefner."

"Hefner was a millstone around my neck," Fulbright said.

Other factors were at play too, though.

Figaori effectively portrayed Fulbright as a "spoiled rich kid who only cared about rich people."

"They (the Figaori campaign) cast me as an out-of-touch rich guy who only cares about the one percent. And of course that's not true, but they wanted to and I think they effectively did portray me as a preppy, private school guy who was not sympathetic to working class people."

Fulbright, age 42, does come from a privileged background. He was born into ancestral money, and he did attend private schools and ivy league universities.

Serap Figaori also attended elite universities, although he came from a more humble background.

It was "a number of things" that contributed to his defeat in 2020, said Fulbright.

But despite blaming Bob Hefner, in part at least, Mr. Fulbright said he understands why Hefner appeals to Conservative voters.

"He's outspoken and off-color, which is a turn off to a lot of people, but some people like that brash, candid, blunt personality. And with the terrible NAT policies we've seen from politicians in Mavocke and in New Salem, I think a lot of people are hungry for that decisive, brash leadership," Fulbright added.

Fulbright has not spoken to Hefner or Figaori since the election.

He did offer praise for Armana Gov. Leandra Kemmes, however, saying the NAT incumbent has handled COVID-19 "pretty well" and she didn't cave to demands from anti-police activists.

"I think Leandra Kemmes is an NAT governor that moderate Conservatives can get behind and work with," Fulbright said.

When reached by phone for comment on Fulbright's remarks, Bob Hefner told a reporter for the Marchande Herald that he had no comment, but quickly said that "nobody cares what Andrew Fulbright has to say."

"Fulbright lost because he was a terrible candidate who campaigned on moderate policies, he tried to appease Nationalists and the left. That's not a winning formula and that's why he failed miserably," said Hefner, before hanging up.

Hefner lost to Gov. Leandra Kemmes (N) 43%-54%, respectively.