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."
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