The sources, who did not want to be named because they were not permitted to speak to the media, said Wolmach is considering running for governor next year in what her close supporters have said would be "a political comeback" potentially.
Wolmach has not confirmed the rumors, but she hasn't denied them either. Multiple sources spoke with the GBC and all told the same story.
Conservative Gov. Mike Shannon is up for re-election next year in Marchenay, which is a perennial battleground state.
Shannon, an Evangelical Christian, enjoys strong support in the Conservative Party, but Nationalists are deeply opposed to his policies.
If Wolmach decides to challenge Shannon, it will be a difficult task.
She'd first have to make it through the NAT's primary election process.
Lt. Gov. Kevin Levenetti has already been quietly planning a run for governor. Levenetti has already secured support from many local and state NAT leaders and elected officials, and while he has not officially announced a campaign for governor, he has been a prolific fundraiser in the past.
He was widely seen as the favored candidate, with no viable challengers.
If Wolmach runs, she would be a formidable opponent, but she'd start far behind Levenetti, both with money and with building political support for her bid.
Earlier this week, state NAT activist and party elder Tom Hartwell also announced his candidacy for governor.
Hartwell almost won the NAT's nomination back in 2018, narrowly losing to then-Attorney General Dan Rattner, who went on to win the governorship.
Hartwell is more left-wing than Levenetti, and the is considerably older (73) than the current front-runner (Levenetti is 46). The differences between the two men are policy-related as much as generationally.
Another potential NAT candidate who could enter the fray is Mavocke businessman Tom Fortney. He, too, ran for governor back in 2018, finishing in third place behind Rattner and Hartwell.
Fortney is a wealthy tech CEO who has a vast personal fortune. He could self-fund a serious campaign if he wanted to. He has not expressed any interest in running for governor again, however.
Wolmach has been supportive of Levenetti in the past, calling him a friend. She has also campaigned for him and helped him raise money in past races.
But friends close to Wolmach say her stinging loss to Conservative Assemblywoman Marsha Dawes in the 2024 senate election has left Wolmach upset and eager to jump back into the political fight.
"She is not one to just sit by idly. She is a fighter. And if she thinks she can fight Conservatives best by running for governor, I think she'll do that. Or maybe she'll run for the Senate again in. I'm not sure. But I fully expect her to run again," said one source, again speaking anonymously.
Wolmach has refused to concede to Dawes, although she acknowledged her campaign had no legal options.
Dawes was crowned the winner after three recounts, taking just over 50% to Wolmach's almost 49 percent, respectively.
With each recount, Dawes gained ground over Wolmach.
Wolmach said she would end her legal challenges to the election, but she declined to concede to Dawes or to congratulate her.
"I refuse to acknowledge an election-counting process that I believe is corrupt and inaccurate," she said immediately following the Marchenay State Supreme Court's decision to reject her appeal.
Dawes declared victory and said it was time to move on.
"The first count found me to be the winner. And the next three recounts found the same thing. This election is settled. The people of Marchenay have spoken. It's time to move on and get to work governing our nation," said Dawes on Friday.
With Dawes' win certified, Conservatives officially now hold 50 seats to Nationalists' 45. One Democratic-Reformist, New Portsmouth Sen. Ayden Benning, caucuses with the NAT, putting the divide in power at 50-46.
It's a slim majority, but a huge turn-around from before last year's elections, when Conservatives held just 42 seats to the NAT's 54.
Ansleigha Sen. Jon Ralston has taken the title of Senate Majority Leader, while Damoign Nationalist Debbie Madronas was challenged for her party's leadership but ultimately prevailed. She will stay on as the Minority Leader.
********************
Election Results -- Official -- Marchenay Federal Senate
| Marsha Dawes (CNS) | 50.13% | 4,451,945 |
| Heidi Wolmach* (NAT) | 48.95% | 4,346,953 |
| Other | 0.92% | 82,014 |
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