Conservatives mock Agatha Houndsler for vegan Thanksgiving dinner

DANAECKE, Asl. -- Normally, conservative politicians and activists complain about Ansleigha Gov. Agatha Houndsler's progressive policies.

But on Thanksgiving, Houndsler came under fire on social media and in Conservative media for a reason completely unrelated to her official policies: her vegan Thanksgiving dinner.

The governor posted on her official social media channels pictures of her vegan Thanksgiving dinner, including dishes like sweet potato pie with a vegan crust, a tofu-based turkey, and mashed potatoes made with rice milk.

Almost instantly, conservatives began trolling Houndsler, making crude jokes about her diet, her appearance, and her general policies.

"Looks like a pile of sh-t," wrote one unoriginal poster.

"A plant-based turkey? No thanks," wrote another.

"That dinner looks about as good as your hair," wrote still another.

"Guess the tofu identifies as a turkey," added someone else.

Houndsler laughed off the criticism in a Friday morning post, saying she got humor out of reading the comments.

"I just browsed the comments for 30 seconds or so, but there were some amusing ones and some creative ones. And some that were really nasty and very unimaginative," said the governor.

Houndsler posted that she had Thanksgiving dinner at the home of a good friend in Danaecke, and that her meal would be vegan because she doesn't like animal cruelty and wants to reduce her carbon footprint.

"These birds (turkeys) are treated so cruelly in factor farms," said Houndsler. "And even if they're not from a factory farm, even if they're sustainably raised and free range and organic, they're still killed for their meat, which is morally wrong in my personal opinion. But I don't judge others. If you eat turkey for Thanksgiving, God bless you. Eat away. Enjoy your holiday and your dinner," she said in a short video.

"Eating meat, particularly beef but also poultry, contributes significantly to increased emissions and greenhouse gases that damage the ozone layer," Houndsler added. "So I choose to eat a plant-based diet. But everyone is free to eat however they want and to enjoy all the yummy Thanksgiving favorites they want. It's a personal choice and I invite you to make your personal choice based on your beliefs and values and dietary needs."

Conservative politicians didn't miss a chance to harpoon the governor, either.

"I would rather stab my eyes out with a turkey fork than eat that dinner," said Conservative state Sen. Andy Harron from Martindale. "But like the governor said, it's a personal choice. She chooses to eat plant-based, I choose to eat meat. That's the beauty of this country and freedom of expression."

Former Gov. Sam Baskingwood, who narrowly lost to Houndsler in a close three-way race with businesswoman Rosamond Burkes in 2024, did not weigh in on Houndsler's diet.

Baskingwood simply posted an image of himself enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with his family and friends in Elmhurst, and wished Ansleighans a Happy Thanksgiving.

Houndsler's vegan diet is just one more aspect of the new governor that has irked conservatives, particularly hard-line, right-wing conservatives.

The new governor -- Ansleigha's first NAT and first woman governor -- has already rankled Conservatives by issuing an executive order that allows transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice in public schools and buildings.

She issued another executive order that mandated all state vehicles be electric, and she signed still another executive order that recognized Ansleigha as an official refuge for Palestinian refugees who were displaced during the Gaza War.

Houndsler has taken Ansleigha's state government in a decidedly left-wing direction, a stark change from the state's previous 13 years of moderate Conservative leadership.

The governor has also signed tougher penalties for police brutality and has asked for more funding for abortion services for Ansleigha women, though her office prefers the term "people with uteruses."

Though it's still years away, Conservatives believe the governor's leftward lurch will help them regain the governorship in 2028.

"Agatha Houndsler is the poster girl for lunatic left-wing policies," said Harron, the state senator from Martindale. "When 2028 arrives, Conservatives will have a heyday reminding Ansleighans of all the loony left-wing policies she has put into place."

Houndsler has so far ignored the criticism and instead wrote on social media on Black Friday that she is "immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Ansleigha as governor."

Kit McHenry eyes 2028 governor's race: sources

FAIRNS, Ver. -- Even though she was ousted from the Federal Senate in a contentious primary election -- a rarity for sitting federal senators -- former Conservative Sen. Kit McHenry is reportedly setting her sights on Veroche's governor's mansion.

Veroche just had a gubernatorial election last year, so the office won't be up for grabs until 2028.

And there are multiple potential Conservative candidates that could throw their hats into the ring. 

So it's a bit premature to start handicapping the 2028 race.

Still, sources close to McHenry -- who was a popular incumbent who lost the primary race to a renegade right-wing challenger, another former senator, John Bosworth -- say McHenry is considering running for governor in 2028.

"Several people have reached out to her and have urged her to run for governor," said one source, who asked for anonymity because they did not want to damage their friendship with the former senator. "And she's considering it," added the source.

McHenry, 64, served in the Senate since 2007 and was largely viewed as a moderate who worked bipartisanly with her senate colleagues.

That willingness to work with the other side, however, cost McHenry her Senate seat.

Bosworth, a more right-wing challenger, campaigned against McHenry aggressively, calling her a "faux conservative" who sided more with Nationalists than with her own party.

It was enough to push Bosworth past McHenry in the CNS primary, where he took 52% to McHenry's 48 percent, respectively.

In the general election, though, Bosworth fell short against NAT first-time candidate, engineer and stay-at-home mom Alex Tupperman of Collettasville. She defeated Bosworth 51.6% to 47.5 percent, respectively.

Many political commentators attributed Bosworth's loss, in part, to his caustic campaign against McHenry.

"A lot of moderate, middle-of-the-road Conservative voters just sat out that election," said Mark Apernell, a Conservative campaign consultant who has worked on multiple Veroche campaigns but was not involved in the 2024 senate race. "A lot of Conservatives were pissed off that John Bosworth railroaded Kit."

McHenry publicly acknowledged she was still upset over the matter, telling reporters she would not vote for Bosworth in the 2024 race, though McHenry said she would not vote for Tupperman either.

The political fallout from that contentious intra-party race continues.

But sources close to McHenry say the former senator is not ready to be done with politics yet.

"Kit is a servant. She is a leader. She was one of the best senators in the chamber. Senators from both parties looked to her to get deals made and to negotiate legislation," said fellow Veroche Conservative Sen. Niles Gilcrest. "I would be surprised if she just retires and quietly fades into the sunset. She has so much more to offer the people of Veroche."

Another anonymous source told GNN that McHenry is "seriously considering" the idea of running for governor in 2028, at the prompting of several friends and colleagues.

"She is definitely considering it. And a lot of people think she would be a great candidate."

Monomi Sen. Kerry Paul (C), a close friend of McHenry, said she is hopeful McHenry will run for either governor or for senate again.

"I know Kit McHenry. She is an amazing senator and an amazing leader. I really hope she'll run again for the Senate or for governor or something. She is an extraordinary person," said Paul.

If she does run for governor in 2028, McHenry will not have a clear path to the CNS nomination.

Former Gov. MacDonald "Mac" Griffin (C), who narrowly lost reelection in 2024 to Nationalist Nic Marcellinos, has ruled out another run.

But other Conservatives, like Gilcrest, Tiaguen Mayor Georgia Waldo Basson, businessman Al Paccioli, outspoken billionaire Bill Enos, former Lanakis Mayor Richard Scholinger, state Senate Minority Leader Mark Holworth, former Lt. Gov. Andy Hackett and Assemblyman Mike Dallenhall are all considered possible gubernatorial candidates.

Then, even if she makes it out of a crowded and tough CNS primary, McHenry will face an uphill battle ousting Marcellinos.

Veroche is a liberal state, and Conservative candidates must win over NAT and independent voters in addition to sweeping Conservative voters, no easy feat.

Still, McHenry has won in the past. She brings a lot of name recognition to the table. She's a proven fundraiser. She has a moderate record, which would help her win over moderate NAT voters and independents, and sources across the Veroche Conservative spectrum say McHenry would be suitable enough to bring hardline Conservatives and moderates together.

"If she does run, I think she has a fair chance," Conservative analyst Greg Stutzman told GNN.

In fact, Stutzman argued, getting through the primary election would probably be more difficult than defeating Marcellinos. 

"Assuming Marcellinos under-performs, which is a likely possibility, it probably won't be that difficult to convince voters to choose the Conservative nominee, so long as the nominee is someone who is palatable to Veroche voters," said Stutzman.

McHenry has not commented on the matter.

Her last public appearance was on Veterans Day, where she attended a memorial ceremony in her hometown of Fairns in northwest Veroche.

While she remains active on social media, the former senator has not posted about her political future. But she has congratulated the slate of new CNS senators from other states who have helped the CNS re-take the majority in the Senate.

"Sad I can't be apart of the new Conservative Senate Majority," McHenry wrote on X, formerly Twitter, last month. "But I'm so impressed by all the new Conservative senators and their passion to serve. I hope they move on their agenda quickly and with thoughtfulness."

Ted Silvan floundering in Monomi governor's race against popular Scott King

TRIETON, Mon. -- It's still a year away, but Monomi's governor's race is already receiving attention from pollsters, as popular Gov. Scott King (N) seeks reelection.

Though controversial due to his past personal life and allegations of sexual assault and harassment against women, King has overcome his previous scandals to become one of Grassadellia's most popular governors.

Top Conservatives have passed on a chance to challenge King in next year's gubernatorial election.

That leaves the state's CNS party with few viable choices.

The best-known candidate to have expressed interest in the race is Heydworth businessman Ted Silvan, who previously ran for Federal Senate in 2024 as a write-in candidate.

Silvan, a multi-millionaire retired tech entrepreneur, has criticized fellow Conservatives in the past for being to moderate.

He would be a stark contrast to King, a moderate Nationalist who has incorporated populist and even traditionally conservative policies into his platform.

A new poll from the University of Monomi shows King walloping Silvan in a potential match up, with King receiving 58% to Silvan's 38 percent, respectively.

The poll found that while Silvan retains strong support in rural, hard-right counties, he is struggling in moderate and urban counties.

In the state's largest county, Kingfisher -- which is home to one out of three Monomians -- Silvan gets just 35.7% compared to 60.6% for King.

Kingfisher County is usually a battleground between both parties, with the city of Trieton trending strongly liberal and suburbs trending in the CNS' favor.

Silvan has not announced an official campaign for governor, however, sources close to him say he is poised to enter the race.

His far-right politics, and his uncompromising personality, though, may hinder his success against a younger, more energetic, charismatic, and pragmatic King.

There are other Conservatives who may also seek the governor's seat. They include Sharon Osmorda, a MA from Devanough, state Sen. Mike Randall from northeast Trieton, and retired Navy Captain Lee Glennis of north central Trieton.

Former Govs. John Densy and Will Huxton have ruled out comeback bids, as have former Lt. Govs. Doug Aker and Nick Garringer.

Conservative Party leaders tried for months to persuade popular Federal Sen. Brooke Burnstein to join the governor's race, but Burnstein chose to seek reelection to the Senate last year instead.

Fellow Federal Sens. Riley "Rill" Stevens and Kerry Paul have also declined to run.

That leaves Silvan as the frontrunner, although the race is early and there is still plenty of time for another candidate to take the lead on the Conservative side.

On the NAT side, King, who previously fractured his party with his scandalous past, is not guaranteed a free ride to the general election.

Many Nationalists remain upset at King for dividing their party and for defeating NAT nominee Nathan Lister back in 2022 in a run-off election.

A Nationalist who also has the official backing of the Monomi Working Families Party, King lost the NAT's nomination in 2022 to Lister. However, King changed his affiliation to "Independent" and ran as a third-party candidate. 

Lister won the initial three-way race against King and Huxton, who was seeking reelection that year. Huxton was eliminated, leaving King and Lister to advance to the run-off, where King narrowly defeated Lister 52-48 percent, respectively.

That intra-party battle in 2022 has left many Nationalists angry at King, with many refusing to support him in 2026.

But while King has lost some supporters from his own party, he has gained many supporters from the Conservative side; voters who agree with King's pledge for no taxes on working-class workers, his commitment to crack down on illegal border crossings, and his "Monomi First" agenda.

Hardline Conservatives, like Silvan, say the governor has incorporated some conservative policies into his agenda, but he still is much more liberal than a Conservative governor would be.

"People say, 'Well, Scott King is securing the border. And he's against new taxes. And he supports a lot of Conservative policies.' My answer to that would be, 'OK, maybe that's all true. But he's still liberal on many other policy areas,' said Silvan in a recent radio interview in Heydworth.

"If we want a truly Conservative governor, then we should elect a true Conservative. Scott King is not a Conservative. He's a middle-of-the-road Nationalist. But he's still far more liberal than you or I are," said Silvan to right-wing radio host Michael George.

King supporters dispute that the governor is liberal, with his staff openly avoiding the term.

"Scott King is a proud Nationalist," said Deputy Chief of Staff Katy Peters. "Scott is proud of his NAT heritage and his working-class roots. He is proud to be a servant of the people who understands and fights for working-class Monomians. Governor King does not care about 'liberal' or 'conservative' labels. He just cares about getting things done for the hard-working people of Monomi."

While he is much more moderate than other Nationalists, King has, so far, retained widespread support from within his party, despite differing views and his previous scandals.

Sources from within Monomi's NAT circles say the reason is because King is popular with voters, and NAT leaders are reluctant to challenge a popular incumbent.

"For now, the state NAT party is sticking with him and backing him," said one source, who asked for anonymity so as to speak freely. "But they're not really sticking with him because they love Scott King. Many of our state's top Nationalists hate Scott King. But they know he's popular, and no one wants to go after a popular governor. So they're reluctantly sticking with him because they really have no real chance of dethroning him."

King's office declined to comment on a potential challenge from within his own party, only saying the governor "remains focused on delivering for the people of Monomi."

Indeed, King is one of the nation's most popular governors, with an October poll finding him with a 68% approval rating.

With high approval ratings, he's often mentioned as a possible future presidential candidate. For now, though, King remains committed to seeking reelection in his home state.

Unless another scandal opens up, or the economy tanks, Conservatives are left with few good options in their quest to unseat King.

"He's a popular leader, a great communicator, and people like him. Which is good for him and his party. It's bad news for Conservatives. But you know what, sometimes that happens. Sometimes a politician is very popular and difficult to beat and you just have to accept that and move on to other races where you actually have a chance of winning," said Kevin Glasner, a Conservative strategist from eastern Monomi.

King is the first NAT governor of Monomi since popular elections began back in the early 2000's. He's also the first unmarried governor, though his sordid personal life and his habit of dating attractive women and models has been openly discussed in the media. The bachelor governor has no children and is currently single, sources say, though "he is always dating," a close friend told GNN.