Kate Morelda appoints Lei Chan as first Chinese-Grassadellian to federal senate

ASHFORDS LANDING, Harlyne -- In a first for the state of Harlyne, Gov. Kate Morelda (N) has appointed the first minority person to represent the state in the federal senate. 

Morelda chose Lei Chan (N), a longtime, liberal member of the Winsaret Metropolitan Council (WMC), to replace former Sen. Dick Ammons, 84, a moderate Conservative who stepped down from his seat recently due to terminal cancer.

Ammons, who has served in the senate in appointed and elected roles for decades, has been ill for the last two years, but was forced to retire his seat back in January as his health declined rapidly.

The moderate Conservative from Ashford's Landing is reportedly in hospice, according to a family spokesperson.

In her appointment announcement, Morelda expressed condolences to the Ammons family, calling the former senator "an institution" and "a model leader" who frequently crossed the aisle and worked with Nationalists. 

"No one can ever replace the great Dick Ammons, and we won't even try," Morelda said at a press conference announcing Chan's appointment.

"But Lei Chan is a worthy candidate to represent our state in the senate," Morelda said. 

Chan has "proven her willingness to lead time and time again," the governor said. And Chan is "wholly committed to ensuring and championing diversity, inclusion and awareness in the federal senate," the governor added.

During her nearly two-decades on the WMC, Chan, who represented central Bourneham County, arguably the most liberal part of the state, was a fierce defender of women's and LGBTQ+ rights, stood up for minorities and labor unions, and fought for fair housing for low-income residents.

She also championed safe needle sites for people struggling with addiction, and strong environmental laws.

Her appointment to the federal senate means she will become the state's first ever minority senator, as all previous senators have been of European descent.

Chan will also become the second woman to represent Harlyne in the senate, after former Sen. Cybil Ducheffrey (N), and the first Chinese-Grassadellian from any state to serve in the federal senate.

Nationalists control the federal senate, and Chan's appointment gives them an extra seat. The balance of power will now stand at 53 Nationalists, 42 Conservatives and one Democratic-Reformist. 

However, the lone Democratic-Reformist senator, Ayden Benning of New Portsmouth, caucuses with Nationalists. So, effectively, the NAT will hold a 54-42 majority.

Appearing alongside her long-standing ally Morelda, Chan said she was "unspeakably grateful" for the opportunity, and expressed gratitude to the governor.

"Thank you so much for your trust in me. It means so much to me. I will never forget who helped me get to where I am, who helped me along the way, and of course, the wonderful people I represent," said Chan.

While Nationalists praised Chan's appointment, angry Conservatives lashed out at Morelda for appointing a liberal Nationalist to fill a Conservative-held seat.

"The people of Harlyne chose Dick Ammons to be their senator. They elected him. They didn't elect a Nationalist to his seat, they chose him. So it's only logical and reasonable that the governor should appoint another Conservative to fill Senator Ammons' seat," said state Conservative Party Chairman Mark Nadler.

"Instead, Kate Morelda, a failing liberal governor, chose to ignore the will of the voters and appoint another failed liberal to fill the seat of the great Dick Ammons. The voters picked a Conservative, Kate Morelda ignored their will and picked a hardcore liberal. The governor went against the people, and we will remind the voters of this betrayal throughout the rest of the campaign," said Nadler.

In Harlyne, there is no constitutional provision that requires the governor to appoint a replacement senator from the same political party as the senator they are replacing.

The governor is free to appoint anyone from any party or political affiliation to fill a vacancy.

So, the governor didn't violate any laws.

But her decision to appoint a replacement senator from the opposite party may backfire with voters.

Morelda is seeking re-election this fall, and some voters may be angered that she appointed a political ally to fill a senate seat instead of making appointing another Conservative.

"Her decision to appoint Lei Chan, one of the most liberal politicians in our state, to the senate is just downright a slap in the face to the people of Harlyne," former Clevey Springs Mayor Todd Kren (C) told WAFL-4 TV in an interview.

"Dick Ammons was a Conservative. The voters chose him specifically to fill that seat. Conservatives are already outnumbered here in Harlyne, and if the voters wanted another Nationalist senator, they would have chosen a Nationalist. But they didn't. They chose Dick. So it's only natural that Kate Morelda should have chosen another Conservative to fill Dick's seat," said Kren.

Morelda's choice has already fired up angry Conservatives, who are already dissatisfied with the governor's new taxes, strict environmental laws, and drug and crime policies.

"Kate, you made a BIG mistake by appointing the LIBERAL Lei Chan!" tweeted Tom Marelo, a Conservative businessman and candidate for governor, who ran against Morelda back in 2020 but lost.

Frank Kerenbury, (pronounced "Karen-bury") a former assemblyman who is also seeking the governorship as a Conservative, told WHLN-TV in Harlynee that he is "disappointed" Morelda chose a liberal to replace a Conservative-held seat.

"Dick Ammons is a good man. He's been an effective leader for our state for decades. He's a very reasonable, moderate-minded man who understands the importance of bipartisanship and bridging the political divide. And for the governor to appoint not only a Nationalist to a Conservative seat, but for her to appoint someone like Lei Chan, who is deeply partisan, bought and paid for by the Nationalist Party, who will never work with the Conservative Party...it's troubling," said Kerenbury.

"This appointment is not a step up. It's not something that should be celebrated," said Kerenbury. "It's really a sign of disrespect to the voters. Governor Morelda should have honored the will of the voters and chosen another Conservative to replace Dick Ammons."

Steve Frenitch, (C), an assemblyman from eastern Harlyne who is also running for governor, was more pointed in his criticism of Morelda.

"This governor is a wannabe dictator," Frenitch told The Goldchristian newspaper. "She thinks she can do whatever she wants, appoint whoever she wants. She has no regard for the voters or for the people of our state. She thinks she's untouchable."

Julia Giorchani, a former Conservative attorney general who is campaigning for governor, also weighed in.

"I'm beyond disappointed at Kate Morelda's decision to appoint Lei Chan to the federal senate. She should have done what's right, which is appoint another Conservative to this Conservative-held seat. Instead, she chose petty politics and political expediency over what the people want. She disregarded and dismissed what the people of Harlyne want. And they won't forget it," said Giorchani.

The governor's office fired back, reminding its critics that the governor is free to appoint anyone to a vacancy.

"Gov. Morelda did what she is constitutionally empowered to do, and that is fill a vacancy in the senate with a qualified replacement. Lei Chan is exceedingly well-qualified to hold this position. Her decades of advocacy and leadership made her a stand-out candidate for the job. And Gov. Morelda is pleased to see Senator Chan take her seat in Mavocke," said Sarah Abrams, a spokesperson for the governor's office.

Polls in Harlyne's governor's race show Morelda leading Marelo, Frenitch and Giorchani in head-to-head match-ups.

However, Morelda is either tied with or slightly trailing Kerenbury in similar polls.

It's unclear which of the four Conservative candidates she will face, but her controversial appointment will almost certainly continue to be a source of contention among all the gubernatorial candidates.

Chan is expected to be sworn-in on Monday in Mavocke.

Because Ammons was elected back in 2020, and his term is more than halfway complete, there will not be a special election to permanently fill his seat.

Instead, Chan will serve until 2026, when she will be eligible to run for re-election or can voluntarily step down, clearing the way for other candidates.

She has not indicated whether she will seek re-election in 2026.

There's also no indication of who will replace Chan on the WMC, though the strongly liberal-favoring seat is almost certainly to be filled by another Nationalist.