Agatha Houndsler, Rosamond Burkes throw wrenches into Sam Baskingwood's reelection plans

DANAECKE, Ans. -- Troubling news has emerged this week for the campaign of Ansleigha Gov. Sam Baskingwood, who is seeking reelection this fall.

First, oil tycoon and political firebrand Rosamond Burkes announced her candidacy governor.

After roiling the 2020 governor's race, Burkes initially said she would sit out the 2024 election.

But the unpredictable businesswoman changed her mind, and announced earlier this week that she will seek the governorship again this year.

Burkes' candidacy poses a major challenge for Baskingwood, who was hoping Burkes would stay out of the race.

Polls show Baskingwood leading all of his NAT opponents in head-to-head match-ups.

But with Burkes in the scenario as a third-party candidate, Baskingwood's lead diminishes.

For example, Baskingwood has a decent 53%-45% lead over oil businessman Pete Coble (N-Hawkinson).

Baskingwood holds a 55%-43% lead over art teacher and yoga instructor Agatha Houndsler (N-Danaecke).

And against state Sen. Paul Biddington (N-Churchtown), Baskingwood leads 58%-41%, respectively.

But those polls omit Burkes.

With Burkes in the mix, Baskingwood's lead evaporates.

He earns 36.7% to Coble's 33.9% and Burkes' 27.4%, respectively.

In a three-way race with Biddington and Burkes, Baskingwood receives 37.9% to Biddington's 35.3% and Burkes' 25.6%, respectively.

But in a hypothetical race with Houndsler and Burkes, Baskingwood falls out of first place.

The poll shows Houndsler leading with an astonishing 41.3% to Baskingwood's 34.1% and Burkes' 24.1%, respectively.

All the polling was conducted by the Grantham Institute, a nonpartisan polling firm and advocacy group.

The polls paint a grim picture for Sam Baskingwood.

What would ordinarily be an easy march to reelection has turned into an unpredictable three-way race.

The situation is particularly concerning for Baskingwood if Houndsler wins the NAT's primary election, which is scheduled for May 28.

Houndsler, 66, a self-proclaimed "hippie," has risen from political obscurity to frontrunner status.

With a Bachelor's degree in art and a Master's degree in psychology, Houndsler is well-received by Ansleigha's highly-educated electorate.

She polls particularly well in places like Murray County, home to the progressive St. Mary's University, and Tidewell County, home to the University of Ansleigha.

While Houndsler scores well among Ansleigha's educated voters, she fares poorly in blue-collar communities, such as Ebendale and Port Aitken.

Still, many Nationalists are looking to Houndsler as a potential "hero in waiting." They're pinning their hopes on the first-time candidate, hoping she can claim the governorship for the party for the first time since statehood.

Party leaders are increasingly concerned Paul Biddington, who is known for his scorched-earth politics, is too abrasive. 

The other three NAT gubernatorial candidates -- businessman Pete Coble, epidemiologist Bill Seiffert of Gilliam, and former minister and state Sen. Chuck Yore of Rhodes County, are not well-known and have little outside funding.

Thus, Houndsler is increasingly seen as the party's savior: a capable candidate who can rally all factions of the party, raise large sums of money, and possibly wrest the governorship from a popular Conservative incumbent.

As her profile and political stature grows, her NAT opponents are shooting, figuratively, more arrows at Houndsler.

"It's easy to be popular when you don't take a firm stand on any issues and when you don't hold firm to NAT values," Biddington told reporters at a campaign stop in Cordeyon, Thursday, speaking of Houndsler.

Pete Coble, who is known for his centrist views, fears Houndsler's educated background and left-wing politics will turn off blue-collar voters.

"I'm sure a lot of progressive voters who have Masters degrees will love Agatha Houndsler," said Coble. "But what about the mechanic who just has a high school diploma? Or the small businessman or woman who just has an Associates degree? Or the single mom who had to drop out of high school? Can Agatha Houndsler identify with those people? Can she earn their support?" he asked reporters last week.

"You can't win an election just by winning over college-educated voters. They only amount for a small portion of the population, even in Ansleigha, which is one of the most-educated states in the country."

As for Houndsler and her surrogates, they say her education does not preclude her from empathizing and identifying with less-educated voters.

"Yes, Agatha Houndsler is well-educated. But she's more than a college instructor. She's a mother. She's a grandmother. She's a mentor. She's a cancer survivor. She's so much more than the diplomas hanging on her office wall," said spokeswoman Stephanie Snider.

As she fights to tone down her ivy league image, Houndsler is also coming under increasing attack from the Baskingwood campaign.

"Agatha Houndsler is a nice person. But Ansleighans don't want a radical hippie in the governor's mansion. They want a sensible, stable leader, who governs with a steady hand and doesn't cave to extremism," said Austin Denneck, a spokesperson for the Baskingwood campaign.

The Houndsler campaign responded, saying "Sam Baskingwood should be afraid of Agatha Houndsler."

"Agatha is a tough woman leader, who has fought for her students, her family, and her community. Now she is ready to fight for all Ansleighans. To fight for a compassionate government that believes in people instead of taking away their rights. She's ready to create a government that empowers people, that makes society more equal, that protects people from gun violence and climate change, and that elevates women and minorities."

Rosamond Burkes has also targeted Houndsler.

The colorful businesswoman, who is known for her controversial comments, has been using a new nickname for Houndsler, calling the frontrunner "Hagatha."

"'Hagatha' Houndsler is another failed liberal candidate who is highly educated but not very bright," Burkes said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last week.

Burkes excoriated Houndsler for her proposed tax increases to pay for treatment for homeless addicts. And she took issue with Houndsler's "incredibly stupid" climate change tax plan, which would raise taxes significantly to combat carbon emissions.

In response, the Houndsler campaign called Rosamond Burkes "unhinged" and said she "represents the very worst of far-right politics."

Senate overwhelmingly confirms Leandra Kemmes as transportation secretary

MAVOCKE -- After months of entreaties from President Jim McCaren, his longtime friend and political ally Leandra Kemmes has been confirmed as McCaren's transportation secretary.

Kemmes previously served in the Menuhaeo administration as an under-secretary of transportation. She then was elected governor of Armana, a position she held until a few weeks ago, when she resigned to pursue the transportation secretary post.

On Friday, the senate voted 87-9 to confirm Kemmes. All nine dissenting senators were hardline Conservatives, who primarily took issue with Kemmes' policies on electric vehicles and public transport.

Her confirmation was a breeze for the McCaren administration, which is seeking to maintain the president's healthy approval rating, last measured at 54%, according to the Grassadellia City Times newspaper.

McCaren lobbied Kemmes for months, according to aides close to both the president and former Armana governor. Kemmes had previously been courted by the McCaren administration for other cabinet-level positions, but she had always declined them.

With her gubernatorial term winding down, however, Kemmes decided to accept the offer.

In addition to serving as transportation secretary, she will also serve as a senior advisor to McCaren on public safety and veterans issues. Kemmes is a veteran of the navy.

Her resignation as governor comes at the end of her term, which was set to expire in January 2025. She had mulled running for an historic third term, but decided against it, telling reporters back in February that it was "time for fresh blood" in the governor's mansion.

Upon Kemmes' resignation as governor, Armana's Lt. Gov. Ed Stanton (N) took over as governor.

Stanton is eligible to run for a full term in the fall election, but announced he will not seek the governorship in November, and will instead only fill the role until a permanent successor is elected.

That means there is a wide-open contest for governor in both parties.

For Nationalists, who hold an edge in the NAT-leaning state, Attorney General Rochelle Gotby, Secretary of State Mark Duggan and Marchande Mayor Tom Mallowrey are the three leading candidates.

Former Treasure Secretary Jay Goodling is also running as a Nationalist.

On the Conservative side, businessman Eric Malvron was the first to enter the race. However, former appointed Gov. Dale Fulbright is considering running for his old position. Fulbright was never elected to the governorship, but was instead appointed by the state legislature. He is considering running for the position this time.

Other Conservative candidates include 2020 Conservative nominee Bob Hefner, who lost to Kemmes in that race.

Otter Creek Mayor Tom Ungerhart is also running.

Former CNS gubernatorial nominee Dave Charm, who unsuccessfully challenged Kemmes in 2016, is also considering running again, sources close to him say.

Because of Armana's strong NAT lean, Nationalists are certain to have an advantage in the fall governor's election. However, moderate Conservatives, such as Sen. Chuck Danbury and former Sen. Dana Glow, have had success.

Thus, Conservatives see an opening and a potential pick-up opportunity in the Coalwood State.

Dr. Kerry Rudgley, from Dulkalow University, currently rates the race as "Leans NAT."