Ellsworth wins East Deschire governorship

DOYLESTOWN, E. Des. -- Attorney General Mark Ellsworth (C) narrowly clinched East Deschire's governorship this week, ousting one-term Gov. Val Hennemott (N).

Ellsworth, a strong Conservative family man who at 48 years old, is handsome and telegenic, was expected to win in one of the nation's most conservative states.

He was running against a enfeebled NAT incumbent, with high inflation and controversial social issues like transgender students in bathrooms, abortion, and drug needle exchanges at the fore of the campaign.

Ellsworth, a darling of the right-wing of the Conservative Party, tied Hennemott to President Jim McCaren and the top NAT Federal Senator Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign) at every turn.

But Hennemott tried to change the narrative in the closing weeks. She had help from Ellsworth himself, who is somewhat gaffe-prone and openly hostile to political correctness. 

East Deschire's first female governor characterized her conservative opponent as unprepared and inept. 

In the final weeks of the race, she also portrayed Ellsworth as frightening, telling seniors he would try to gut the state's Social Security allowances, Medicare allotments, and state pensions.

"Mark Ellsworth is not a good choice for seniors. Not at all. He is hostile to Medicare, he is hostile to pensioners, he is hostile to Social Security. He wants to cut spending at all costs to impress his radical supporters, and he'll throw seniors under the bus to get a smaller bottom line," she said at a campaign rally in Bridgeworth.

Ellsworth hit Hennemott for soaring energy prices, rising grocery prices, and job losses -- things that were largely out of her control.

He and his Conservative allies also heavily criticized the governor for shutting down businesses and imposing COVID restrictions at the height of the pandemic.

"When Val Hennemott shut down hard-working East Deschire businesses, she took away people's paychecks. She made people lose their homes and their livelihoods. She made kids fall behind in school. She unconstitutionally and illegally took away peoples' right to worship freely at the church of their choice. Her COVID rules and policies forever, irreparably damaged East Deschire in ways that will take years to repair," he told East Deschire Public Radio in an interview shortly before election day.

After a closely-watched campaign, the final election results were close, with Ellsworth winning a slim majority of the vote, and Hennemott trailing by five percent, or not quite 100,000 votes out of more than 2.2 million cast.

As expected, Ellsworth won big in the strongly Conservative population centers of Clawfield, Beddingfield, and Birch Hollow.

He won by more modest margins in his hometown of Doylestown, and had similar modest wins in Darrich County and Mardeau County, the state's most-populous.

Hennemott won decisively in her hometown of Christen-Kerr. She also won by a wide margin in Selkford County, home to Hansboro.

She had smaller wins in Lewaina County, home to the state capitol, and in Mackinee County, Sauder County and Seskennan County.

Ultimately, Ellsworth racked up huge wins in rural counties, though Hennemott did win some rural counties that have large indigenous populations.

When he takes office next week, Ellsworth will become East Deschire's fourth governor, the second Conservative governor, and the youngest governor in state history. He's also the first governor from Doylestown, the state's third-largest city.

Hennemott has not said for sure what her future plans are, but it's likely she will return to her job as a consultant. She could also seek office again, either the governorship in 2026, or a Federal Senate seat.

**Election Results** -- East Deschire Governor 

Mark Ellsworth / Lisa Nolander (CNS)	51.57%	1,152,753
Val Hennemott / Mark Holder (NAT)*	47.39%	1,059,397
Other	1.04%	23,335

Ritonio reclaims Kalnier governorship in tight finish

LAMBERTH, Kal. -- As ballots continue to be counted from December's election, particularly in close races, there was one race that was perhaps the most-watched of the 2022 campaign season: the Kalnier governor's race.

Kalnier Secretary of State Lena Thorman has certified the results.

The final tally shows former Gov. Tony Ritonio (C) barely edging out incumbent Gov. Nick Hall (N) by a margin of 50.16% to 48.39 percent, respectively.

Ritonio served as governor from 2015-2019, and lost to Hall in a previous close contest in the 2018 election.

After his 2018 defeat, Ritonio went back to running his restaurant business, and stayed mum on running for his old job. He finally threw his hate into the ring in spring 2022.

His second win in 2022 means he is the first person in modern history, from either political party, to win two non-consecutive terms as governor.

Speaking at his campaign rally in downtown Lamberth, held at one of his restaurants, Ritonio thanked the voters of Kalnier "for their faith" in his candidacy, and he promised to tame inflation and Kalnier's high cost-of-living.

"The people of Kalnier have spoken loud and clear," he said in his victory speech. "They are tired of high taxes; tired of big, expensive government; tired of the out-of-control homelessness problem in our state; tired of radical political correctness that trumps the enforcement of good policy; tired of inflation; and tired of housing costs pushing young people and seniors out of the market."

"We are going to fix those things over the next four years. Gone are the 'woke' policies of our predecessors, and coming soon are sound, common-sense solutions that will deliver for Kalnierans and help their pocket books."

Hall, at his campaign celebration at an upscale, dockside restaurant, said he accepted the verdict of the voters.

"We lost tonight, and I take full responsibility for that. I am the leader of the state NAT party, I am the leader of our campaign, and the loss is on me. I won't dodge responsibility or shift blame. I accept the results and I respect the will of the voters," he said.

In an interview with Kalnier Public Radio later on in the week, Hall attributed his loss to the struggling economy and high inflation.

"Any governor who is combatting inflation and a high cost-of-living is going to face strong headwinds, and in the end, we just couldn't overcome it," he said.

Hall won big in Golstad County, which encompasses most of the liberal stronghold of Lamberth. On the opposite side of the state, he more modestly won Creighton County, home to the state's second-largest metropolitan center of Gladwell.

Hall also carried Drogen County, home to the state capitol of Appenbaum, and Del Verte County, home to the progressive city of Lockport.

But Ritonio carried most of rural Kalnier by wide margins. 

He won handily in the western and southern suburbs of Lamberth, as well as regional cities like Bellock, Katherine, Pifney, and Kirkenelly. 

Ritonio also carried Parma County by a wide margin. Parma County includes the northern suburbs of Tornboro, Trinton, and is considered a swing county.

What Ritonio's win means in the grand scheme of Kalnier politics is less clear. The governor-elect has made clear he intends to focus on the economy and shepherding pro-business policies through the legislature, much as he did during his first term.

But the state legislature is still controlled by the NAT, and Ritonio will have to cross the aisle to get many of his legislative initiatives done.

He also will likely face strong opposition from local political leaders in Lamberth, with whom he clashed frequently during his first stint as governor.

As for Hall, a 42-year-old former TV news presenter, he is unlikely to go back to his former profession, considering his choice to enter politics and forfeit political neutrality.

He could re-enter broadcast journalism and work for a more liberal, national TV news network. But aides close to the former governor say he is more likely to take a job as a professor or as a CEO of an advocacy group.

Hall is the partner of Sarah Ellen Swey, who serves on Lamberth's city council and is widely considered to be a top contender for Lamberth mayor.

It's possible Hall will serve as a campaign manager or advisor for Swey, should she declare her candidacy for mayor or another elected role.

Friends of Hall say he is likely to re-enter politics in the future, possibly running for governor again in 2026, or for Federal Senate.

"He's not done, I can tell you that," said one close advisor, who has worked for Hall since his first campaign for office in 2014. "I don't know exactly what he will run for in the future, but I know he is not done seeking elected office."

Hall did not comment when asked about his political future.

But he did wish Tony Ritonio well.

"I disagree sharply with Tony Ritonio's policies. I think they are disastrous for Kalnier and for working class people. But I hope he succeeds, I hope he helps Kalnier and hopefully some good things during his second-chance tenure," said Hall in a TV interview.

Ritonio also wished Hall well.

"We don't agree on a lot, but I think he's a nice guy, I think he has good intentions. It's just that his liberal policies are misguided. But he isn't a bad person, and for that reason, I wish him well."

Tony Ritonio / Marie Dehignen (CNS)	50.16%	1,613,201
Nick Hall / Paul Myrick (NAT)*	48.39%	1,556,230
Other	1.45%	46,746