Shannon noncommittal on Azurjean vs Dawes race

MADAGEN, Mar. -- Marchenay Gov. Mike Shannon is not taking sides in the state's contested Senate primary election, he announced Monday.

Shannon, a Conservative, had been asked repeatedly if he would back fellow Conservative businessman Burke Azurjean for federal Senate, or Conservative Assemblywoman Marsha Dawes.

Both Azurjean and Dawes are vying for the party's nomination to take on NAT Sen. Heidi Wolmach, who is up for reelection in the fall.

Dawes, a longtime assemblywoman with strong conservative credentials from southern Marchenay, was the first to declare her candidacy for the seat. She has received endorsements from the more right-wing side of the party.

Azurjean, a moderate who previously ran unsuccessfully against Shannon for governor back in 2022, is seen as a centrist candidate who could better appeal to independent and swing voters. However, Azurjean entered the race after Dawes, and there is concern among party leaders that he may not be able to win over the party's most loyal voters in next week's primary election.

When asked which candidate he is supporting, Gov. Shannon said he would "be happy either way."

"They're both great candidates. I've known Marsha for years and she's been a great assembly member for her district. Burke Azurjean is also a great conservative mind who would represent our state well. So I really don't think you can go wrong with either one," said Shannon to a group of reporters at the National Robotics Convention at the Madagen Convention Center.

The governor was at the convention speaking to leaders in the robotics industry.

Both Azurjean and Dawes have been highlighting their closeness with Shannon, who is seen as the leader of Marchenay's Conservative Party.

"Ever since Mike Shannon beat me in the 2022 governor's race, I've worked to get him elected and to enact his conservative, constitution-focused agenda," said Azurjean, in a recent campaign TV commercial.

Dawes, meanwhile, has pointed out that her voting record has strongly overlapped with Shannon's when Shannon was in the state Senate.

"I am proud to support the same policies and rights that Mike Shannon has fought for. I am a proud gun owner, a strong advocate for small businesses and lower taxes, a strong advocate for healthy, traditional families, and a fierce opponent of the federal government overreaching and telling Marchenayans how to live their lives," Dawes said in her own campaign commercial.

A spokesperson for the governor repeated that, while both candidates may imply or suggest he is backing their campaign, the governor is in fact remaining neutral.

"Gov. Shannon supports both Burke Azurjean and Marsha Dawes equally. He is not taking a side. They are both strong, reliable Conservative leaders, and the governor would be delighted to see either one in the federal Senate. He believes both candidates are superior to Heidi Wolmach and can beat her in November," said John Dulaney, a spokesperson for the governor's office.

Among the high-profile groups supporting Azurjean are the Grassadellia Chamber of Commerce, the Marchenay Association of Industry and Business, and Bridge Builders, a good-governance group that advocates for bipartisanship.

Dawes has been endorsed by the National Rifle Club, the Grassadellian Conservative Union, and the Grassadellian Farmers Alliance.

In the money race, Azurjean has raised significantly more money for his campaign, about $7 million so far. However, $3 million of that came from his own pocket. As a multi-millionaire, he has deep pockets he can tap for additional campaign funds. Azurjean currently has $2.1 million in cash-on-hand.

Dawes is not as fortunate. Her net worth is significantly smaller. However, the assemblywoman has strong financial support from many major players in the conservative political arena. She has raised $4.3 million for her campaign so far. Dawes has $1.1 million in cash-on-hand.

Marchenay's other top Conservatives, federal senators Sidney Leeland and Megan Sellious, are also remaining neutral in the Azurjean-Dawes contest.

Federal Sen. Kathy Bernanski (N) is also up for reelection this fall. However, only Conservative State Rep. David LaSaria is running, unopposed, on the CNS side.

Wolmach's race is rated as a toss-up by most political prognosticators, while Bernanski's race is rated either safely NAT or NAT-leaning.