LACARTHY, Rodd. -- Former state Attorney General Andrew Martinek (N) continues to lead Conservative Governor Jon Cortano in Roddenshire's governor's race, a new poll finds.
Cortano, who is seeking his second term, is slightly behind Martinek, earning 48.2% to Martinek's 50.9%, respectively, according to the new poll.
The poll was commissioned by the Roddenshire Today newspaper, based out of Lacarthy. It has a margin of plus or minus three points, which means the race is within the margin of error.
Cortano narrowly pulled off a win four years ago against Nationalist incumbent Gov. Mona Rodgers, who was seeking a historic third term.
That same year, Martinek lost reelection himself to the attorney generalship, losing narrowly to Conservative Sean Bracken.
Shortly after his loss, and after Rodgers was appointed Federal Secretary of State by President Jim McCaren, Martinek announced his intention to challenge Cortano in 2024.
Roddenshire is a liberal state, although Conservatives sometimes are able to pull of surprising upsets.
Cortano won his governorship in 2020 based largely on the economy, taxes, and assailing Rodgers for being a "career politician."
The governor is now hoping his support for the proposed Bi-State/Cross-Strait Bridge on the M1 freeway, which would connect Roddenshire's far eastern tip with Damoign's north coast, bypassing the Grassadellia City inner-urban area, will appeal to voters who are sick of long commutes and some of the nation's worst traffic jams.
Cortano has also lowered taxes, saying it was necessary to unburden families who are already struggling with high costs of living and inflation.
Contrary to many Conservative governors, Cortano has actually increased spending on education, though he has redirected how many of the funds are allocated. He has also championed and signed charter schools into law, something Nationalists were bitterly opposed to.
Cortano has invested some money in public transport, which is particularly important in the northwestern and southeastern ends of the state, where suburban areas border Mavocke and Grassadellia City, respectively. But he has spent more money on fixing roads, a policy Nationalists take issue with.
On healthcare, Cortano, a devout Roman Catholic, has largely left abortion laws the same as they were when he took office. He has voiced his personal opposition, and he attempted to require teenage girls to get parental consent before obtaining abortions, but the NAT-controlled state legislature defeated the bill Cortano proposed.
Martinek and Nationalists see an opening in Cortano's race for reelection. The state is overwhelmingly liberal, and Nationalist win the vast majority of elections. Additionally, Cortano's relative youth (age 48) helped him in 2020 against the elderly Rodgers, 73.
But this time around, it's Martinek who is younger, at age 44.
The former attorney general has said he wants to increase funding for public transport, climate change mitigation, and education. He also is backing a state medicaid program, a move Cortano strongly opposes. Martinek also says he will raise taxes on wealthy Roddenshireans, as well as increase the state's sales tax, something Cortano calls "insane."
"Why would you want to increase taxes on Roddenshireans right now when the economy is still struggling after COVID-19, people are struggling with inflation, people can't afford their mortgages or rents. It's just insane. Only a Nationalist would propose a tax increase on struggling families," said Cortano in a press conference in Lacarthy on Thursday.
Martinek also wants to require builders and developers to include affordable housing for low-income residents in all new large-scale housing projects. Cortano opposes that idea, saying he will reduce red tape and restrictions on zoning to increase new housing construction.
"I've already waived some requirements and eased some zoning restrictions to allow developers to build more housing, but I'll continue to do that and continue to support the construction industry if reelected," Cortano said Thursday.
Martinek responded Saturday at a campaign stop in Woldham County on the state's northeast tip, telling voters Cortano hasn't done anything meaningful to make housing more affordable since he's been elected.
"What has he done? He's had almost four years to do something, and instead of requiring people to build affordable housing, he's eased zoning laws. All that has done is allow developers to build more luxury housing in places they weren't previously allowed to do it before," said Martinek.
In the money race, Martinek has raised more money, although it's close.
The former attorney general has raised $8.1 million, while the Cortano campaign has raised $6.9 million.
Those figures do not include money spent from outside groups that are either directly or indirectly supporting each candidate.
The next financial disclosure will take place on November 1.
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