Julia Giorchani, Steve Frenitch drop gubernatorial bids in Harlyne

FLAG HARBOR, Har. -- The Harlyne governor's race has become a smaller contest.

Conservative candidates Julia Giorchani and Steve Frenitch both announced Friday they are leaving the race.

In an outdoors press conference in downtown Flag Harbor, Giorchani gave little explanation for her exit from the race, only saying "now is not my time."

The former attorney general did not cite family, health or any other reason for departing the race. When asked if she was doubtful she could win, she emphatically said 'no.'

"I'm 100 percent confident we can win this race. That has nothing to do with why I'm stepping out of the race. It's just not my time," she said.

She declined to elaborate when asked by reporters.

Instead, Giorchani will throw her support to former assemblyman Frank Kerenbury, who is the front-runner in the race to challenge incumbent NAT Gov. Kate Morelda.

"Frank is a committed public servant. He has served the people of Scandinaugh County faithfully for years. He is a leader who puts bipartisanship ahead of his own interests or that of his own party. He will be the kind of governor we need," Giorchani said, adding that Kerenbury will govern in a style similar to that of former Gov. George Garesby (C).

Giorchani said she respects businessman Tom Marelo, who is still in the race. But ultimately, Kerenbury "is the best candidate to defeat Kate Morelda," said Giorchani.

Right after her announcement, Frenitch announced he too is dropping out of the governor's race.

Frenitch, however, will instead seek the state Attorney General post.

"I fully believe I could win the race for governor," Frenitch told reporters at a press conference in Goldchrist.

"But we already have two good candidates for governor. Our party has no good candidates for attorney general. We need someone good in that position. And that position would allow me to stay here in Harlyne and not be in Mavocke, so it's a better fit for me," he said.

Unlike Giorchani, though, Frenitch is endorsing Marelo.

"Tom Marelo is more conservative than Frank Kerenbury. Tom is a businessman. He knows how to run government like a business. He understands property rights. He understands government overreach. He understands the disparities and inequalities between western and eastern Harlyne. And for those reasons and more, I am supporting Tom Marelo for governor," said Frenitch.

Marelo was the party's nominee for governor in 2020. He lost to Morelda by a margin of 46% - 52%, respectively.

Marelo has declined to drop out of the race, despite pressure from party leaders, who view Kerenbury as the more viable and electable candidate.

"I am in this race to win this race," Marelo told reporters on Wednesday at a campaign stop in Harlynee. "I refuse to cave into pressure from party bosses in Mavocke who have no idea what life is like here in Harlyne and what people in Harlyne want."

Kerenbury has not called on Marelo to drop out directly, telling reporters last week he "welcomed" a primary contest.

But top Conservatives have expressed doubts about Marelo's ability to beat Morelda.

"Tom already lost once to Kate Morelda. It wasn't a blowout, but it wasn't exactly close. I haven't seen any evidence that Tom is going to beat Kate Morelda this time around," said former gubernatorial candidate and current lieutenant governor candidate Rich Tuller (C).

Polls show no matter who wins the June 18 primary election, both Conservative candidates will have a challenge to defeat Morelda.

A former attorney general, Morelda is popular among liberals and progressives for her pro-climate policies. 

Morelda has struggled with public opinion, however, especially over issues like cost-of-living, homelessness and crime.

"Harlyne is more dangerous and far poorer today than it was just three years ago when Governor George Garesby was in office," said state Conservative party chairman Jim Deneg. "The people of Harlyne deserve a governor who actually has a plan to bring down inflation, who respects property rights, who wants less taxes, and who will put more cops on the streets and prosecute criminals for all crimes."

The Morelda campaign hit back, saying "Harlynians appreciate Gov. Morelda's sensible climate policies."

"Under Kate Morelda, we have a healthier environment. We have cleaner air. We have cleaner water. We have cleaner coastlines. We've reduced garbage and refuse and increased recycling. And we've freed our justice system from frivolous prosecutions. Instead of criminalizing houselessness, we've given people who are experiencing houselessness more options and connected them to social services," said Jared Walsh, a campaign spokesman.

Polls show Morelda and Kerenbury essentially tied in head-to-head match-ups. The most recent poll from The Harlyne Sun newspaper found Kerenbury narrowly leading, 50% - 49%, respectively.

Against Marelo, Morelda polls at 52% to Marelo's 47%, respectively.