Lial Gov. Junes Charmagne: 'I think I have one more term in me'

MONVAILLE -- After a record-breaking seven years in office, popular Lial Gov. Junes Charmagne says he will seek a historic third term in 2026.

Lial does not have term limits on its governors, so they are free to run for reelection as many times as they want.

However, in recent history, all former governors have only sought two terms.

But with an approval rating of 70% and a booming economy, Charmagne is well-positioned to seek a third term next year.

He first won the governorship back in 2018 in an upset, when he unexpectedly defeated Lial Attorney General Susan Pittman in a close race.

In 2022, he easily won reelection against NAT businessman Bill Kintelli by 10 points.

Now, Charmagne's popularity has scared off top NAT candidates.

Pittman has declined to run against him again, saying she will continue to work for the federal government in Mavocke, where she has served as the federal Attorney General.

Former Senate Majority Leader John Morandi has been toying with running for governor, but sources close to him say he really wants to go back to the Federal Senate.

Morandi has said he will make a decision a run for governor by the end of January.

NAT Sens. Jaime Scousenovy and Henry Mickeravi have both declined to run for governor in 2026.

That leaves lesser-known and less-popular candidates to challenge Charmagne.

Current Lt. Gov. DeMerius Jenkins is exploring a run, as is Attorney General Alice Mobley.

So far the only candidate officially running against Charmagne is state Sen. Bill Passaneas from south Monvaille.

A champion of the working class and labor, Passaneas, 73, is considered an "old school" candidate. He is known to cross the aisle and work with Conservatives, and he has many friends in the state legislature from the Conservative party.

Still, the state senator says Lial needs a governor who is more focused on preserving the social safety net and the working class.

"I think Junes Charmagne has done an 'okay' job as governor," Passaneas recently told Lial Public Radio in an interview. "But the emphasis during his governorship has been on making money for big business. On improving the economy for big business and big companies. Where is the focus on helping working class folks? Where is the focus on helping the single moms and single dads or seniors or low-income families or even middle class families who are struggling to make ends meet? I think the focus and the priorities have been wrong," said Passaneas.

While Charmagne is popular, Lial remains a left-leaning state. Nationalists inherently enjoy an advantage in the state, with almost twice as many registered voters as Conservatives.

Even so, ousting the popular incumbent will be difficult for Nationalists, especially if they nominate a little-known candidate such as Passaneas, who has little name recognition outside his south Monvaille district.

Charmagne made his reelection campaign official this week, holding a kick-off party, complete with the governor spraying champagne on the crowd.

"I think I have one more term in me," he told the audience with a smile, as applause filled the Lions Center in Clothen.

In a short speech, Charmagne said a third term, should the voters grant him one, would be focused on bringing greater economic revival to Monvaille, the state's largest city and the third largest metro area in the nation.

"Over the past seven years, we've seen huge economic gains in places like Clothen, Cedrickson, Sauvienne, Brisanten, Castleton, Kappasanna, and the suburbs of Monvaille," the governor said. "But unfortunately, because of hardcore, deeply ingrained Nationalists who lead the City of Monvaille, we haven't seen those economic benefits in our state's largest city. Failed Nationalist politicians in Monvaille have refused to work with me or my administration on reform. They have shut Conservatives out of the process and clung to their failed policies. As a result, the economic revolution that is sweeping our state has largely passed over our state's largest city. And the people of Monvaille deserve better."

"I am pledging now, that if I win a third term next fall, I will be focusing on the whole state like I always do, but I will be forming a special task force, an economic development task force, specifically for the City of Monvaille. We're going to bring economic relief to Monvaille, whether the Nationalist politicians who run that city want us to or not. Whether they work with us or not. We're going to do what we have to do to make Monvaille great again," he said, echoing US President Donald Trump's famous "Make America Great Again" slogan.

NAT critics, including Passaneas, say the governor should have already brought economic relief to Monvaille.

"The City of Monvaille is the economic and cultural capitol of our state," said Passaneas. "Why has the governor been ignoring our state's largest city? I think the answer is that he hasn't gotten very many votes from the City of Monvaille. So therefore, it's not a priority for him. He only seems to care about the communities and the counties that voted for him and gave him their support. And that kind of thinking is really just wrong."

Charmagne's press secretary later clarified the governor's comments, telling reporters in a lengthy and wandering text message that Charmagne has worked for years to bring economic revitalization to Monvaille but has encountered stiff opposition from Monvaille's mayor and city council.

"This governor has held meetings in Monvaille with the mayor and city council. He has sent envoys and emissaries to meetings. He has called them regularly, at least once a week. He has held campaign events and press events in the city. And every time, he has been rebuffed by the angry, bitter NAT politicians who run Monvaille. They often, though not always, have refused to meet with him. Or they only want to meet with him with cameras rolling, so they can publicly air their grievances and berate the governor on camera. They have held rival rallies during his events to distract the press from covering his events. They have resisted any reforms this governor has put forward. They have refused to even consider some of the reforms he's asked them to look at. This is a very hostile local government, and the real solution is that the people of Monvaille, the voters, need to vote out their crappy mayor and horrible city council. That's the real solution. But no matter who the voters elect, Governor Charmagne will work with whoever to get the City of Monvaille back to the greatness it once had," wrote Kelly Ann Stevens, press secretary for the governor, in a text message to the NPF.

Nationalist leaders in Monvaille are "jealous" of Charmagne's popularity, Stevens added. "They just can't stand that he's a Conservative and he is immensely popular with the people of Lial. That just pisses them off so much, because Lial is supposed to be a liberal state and the NAT is supposed to have such an advantage here. And they do [have an advantage]. But Junes Charmagne has totally turned the politics in this state upside down. He has brought back a popular Conservative brand, he has built a strong economy for the 21st century, and he has trounced Nationalists at the polls on several occasions. And the Nationalists politicians in Monvaille do not like that. And therefore, they're trying to undermine the governor."

Monvaille Nationalists, of course, dispute that characterization. They blame the governor for the city's urban decay. 

"We have met with the governor on many occasions," Monvaille City Council President Court Van Cleef told the NPF in response to the governor's assertion of a lack of cooperation. "I can tell you, he has zero interest in the City of Monvaille. His focus is on rural and suburban only."

Monvaille's Mayor, Roderick Bronwyn, a Nationalist, also took issue with Charmagne's characterization of his city. 

"I'm not sure what he's talking about when he talks about how Monvaille is 'failing.' Our city is alive and well. Our economy is booming. We are far and away the economic lifeblood of this state," said Bronwyn. "Have we lost some population to the suburbs, yes we have. But that's something all major cities in this country have dealt with, it's not unique to Monvaille. We still have challenges, like traffic congestion, expanding public transport, pollution, and reviving industry. But again, these are challenges that are happening all over the country, not just here in Monvaille. It's not a reflection of failed policy, it's just a reflection of changing demographics and changing working conditions, such as remote work, smaller families, the migration of families to suburban areas, etc."

Charmagne said in a sit-down TV interview with the GBC that "failed Nationalist politicians can say whatever they want."

"They can defend it until the cows come home, but the reality is the Nationalist party has controlled the local government in Monvaille since the 1950s, and the city is worse off today, economically, with urban decay, homelessness, garbage and pollution, and failed schools...it's worse off today than ever before, and that's because they're doing something wrong. Something is not working. If there ever was a city that should open its doors and its arms to the help of Conservative, common-sense business leaders like me, it's the City of Monvaille."

As the war of words over one of the nation's largest metros continues, both parties will be looking to the 2026 gubernatorial election.

But one thing is clear: while Junes Charmagne and top Nationalists feud back-and-forth over the fate and condition of the City of Monvaille, the governor still enjoys a 70% approval rating, as of the last check a week ago.

"The Nationalists can attack him, and they can attack him for focusing exclusively on rural and suburban communities at the expense of urban Monvaille. But say what you will, the governor still is very popular. The voters love him. He is one of the most popular governors in the country and most certainly a presidential contender in 2028," Chris Alexander, a political commentator from the GBC said in an interview with local media last week.

If he does win a third term in 2026, Charmagne will become the first Conservative governor in modern history to win a third term.

Nationalist Gov. Jenna Duvan won a third term in Damoign last year, becoming the first governor in more than 30 years to win a third mandate from voters.

Wolmach says 'Marchenay needs a woman governor'

MADAGEN, March. -- After months of wandering in the political wilderness, former Federal Sen. Heidi Wolmach says she will seek Marchenay's governorship in 2026.

Her decision sets up a potentially acrimonious primary battle with current Lt. Gov. Kevin Levenetti (N), who already announced his candidacy for governor back in April 2025.

Wolmach, who narrowly lost reelection last year to Conservative Assemblywoman Marsha Dawes, had been mulling her political future for months.

Friends of the former senator say she slipped into a deep depression following her 2024 defeat, and she was anxious to jump back into the political arena.

She considered running for the Senate again in 2026 or 2028, but concluded it would be difficult to defeat Conservative incumbents Sidney Leeland and Megan Sellious, who are both popular and well-financed.

An easier path back to political relevance, Wolmach decided (according to friends), would be challenging first-term Conservative Gov. Mike Shannon, who is seeking reelection next year.

And in an interview with a Madagen radio station last week, Wolmach made a controversial statement, telling the hosts of the radio show that she decided to run for governor because "Marchenay needs a woman governor."

She acknowledged Levenetti had declared his candidacy months earlier, and the lieutenant governor has raised $3.1 million so far. He has also amassed a sizable amount of endorsements from state leaders, mayors, county commissioners, and members of Assembly.

Wolmach admitted running against Levenetti, who is already firmly established in the race, would be difficult.

"This won't be easy, Karen," Wolmach told Karen Leising, host of Madagen's 1910 AM Wake-Up program. "But I decided it's the right race for me and the right race for the people of Marchenay."

Wolmach said Levenetti has done "a fine job" as lieutenant governor, but she said it will take "a firm executive with strong leadership skills" to oust the unassuming and affable Shannon in 2026.

"Marchenayans want a strong governor. They don't want just a nice person. They want someone who is tough, someone who will fight for them, someone who will stand up to the Conservatives when they propose cutting social safety nets and cutting funding to health care and education. Marchenayans want someone who will push back when they're pushed, or punch back, in my case," said a chuckling Wolmach.

"Kevin Levenetti is a nice man, but I question whether he has that fire, that energy and that passion to defend Marchenayans against all the attacks we're suffering from Conservatives," added Wolmach.

In a response on his "X" account, (formerly Twitter), Levenetti disputed Wolmach's characterization of him as "a weakling or a doormat."

"I am not a weakling or a doormat," he wrote. "I am the lieutenant governor of Marchenay, a position that is a heartbeat away from the governorship. I am an experienced business professional who worked in the private sector before becoming lieutenant governor. I know how to run a company, I know how to be a CEO and how to bring business to our state, and I know how to manage our state."

In a follow-up post, he wrote that he is "not afraid of Conservatives" and not afraid to "punch back if I have to."

"I'm not a naturally combative person," he told Madagen's 3C TV news station. "But if somebody walks into my state and disrespects our process, or attacks our state, I will fight back."

The lieutenant governor and his allies, including top state and national NAT party elders, spent months trying to dissuade Wolmach from entering the governor's race. The party desperately wants to avoid a contentious primary battle, especially when their chosen candidate had already enjoyed widespread support.

"Heidi Wolmach is pissing off a lot of her fellow Nationalists by running for governor when the party already has a strong candidate who is well established," said John Nickerling, an NAT strategist who has worked on past statewide NAT campaigns, though has never worked for Wolmach directly.

"She might be running for governor, but she isn't going to get any support from the state or national parties," said Nickerling. He added that her run for governor is "doomed before it even begins."

Conservatives quickly seized on Wolmach's comments about her gender.

"Heidi Wolmach says she's running for governor because 'Marchenay needs a woman governor,'" conservative radio host Chris Kilgore told his listeners. "Can you imagine anything more asinine than that? She thinks she'd be a superior governor because she's a woman. It can't get any more absurd than that," he said.

Wolmach said being a woman is an asset when it comes to formulating policy that is pro-women and pro-family.

"We've had several male governors, and there's nothing wrong with that. But let's face it, men don't understand women. They don't understand what women need. They don't understand what mothers need. They don't understand pro-family policy. It would help, in a lot of ways, to have a woman governor who understands these things. Who understands the needs of children, the needs of babies and infants, the needs of working mothers and single moms. I think that's a big part of why I'm running, because no one else in the race offers that perspective."

No polling has been done on the 2026 Marchenay governor's race yet, but Shannon is a popular incumbent. Under his three-year tenure so far, the state's economy has added jobs, despite a difficult national economy. His administration has touted the arrival and commitment of several auto companies to build car factories in Marchenay, and the governor has made welfare reform and work-for-benefits a signature part of his first term policy.

"Under Mike Shannon, Marchenay is booming again," Conservative strategist Mike Adkins told the NPF. "Our economy is buzzing again, we have more kids graduating from high school and going to work in the trades and becoming plumbers, electricians, welders, etc. We are having a mini-revolution in this state, and it's in large part thanks to Mike Shannon and his team."

Marchenay remains a liberal-leaning state, however, Conservatives like Shannon, Dawes, Leeland, Sellious, Attorney General Mary Beth Halter and Secretary of State Ari Kavarnath have enjoyed success in recent years.

Some political prognosticators have said Marchenay has moved to the right, along with Ansleigha and Trinton...three formerly liberal bastions that have in recent years moved rightward in their election results.

Nationalists say while Conservatives have enjoyed recent success, their party still has strength, particularly in the cities and working-class communities.

The party's failure in recent elections has largely come down to weak candidates, says Nickerling.

"Dan Rattner, our former governor, was not a strong candidate back in 2022, and I say that with all due respect, because I like Dan. But he was very weak. And some of our senate candidates and our statewide candidates have also been weak. I think if we get the right candidate at the top of the ballot, you'll see the NAT shine again in Marchenay."

Wolmach has verbally said she is running for governor, but she has not officially filed any paperwork yet. She is expected to file the papers sometime over the holiday break.

Two former governors headed for a clash in Kalnier primary

LAMBERTH, Kln. -- As Conservative Gov. Tony Ritonio becomes a "lame duck" and heads into the political sunset next year, Kalnier's political circles are churning with speculation about who will replace the term limited Ritonio.

And on the NAT side, it appears two former governors are poised to clash head-on in a divisive NAT primary race.

Former Govs. Karen DeSalle and Nick Hall are reportedly both planning to seek the governorship next year.

The two have been plotting their respective political comebacks for months, and while neither has officially launched their campaigns yet, sources close to both former leaders say they are both very close to formally entering the race to succeed Ritonio.

Over the past eight months, DeSalle and Hall have met twice and have communicated regularly, according to sources who know both parties. The sources asked The Mavocke Capitol newspaper to remain anonymous, because they were asked by both DeSalle and Hall not to speak to the media.

The Capitol's sources say both DeSalle and Hall have tried to avoid a political confrontation, but neither one has backed down and decided to step aside.

DeSalle, who was governor from 2011-2015, believes she should be the NAT's nominee next year because she has political seniority over Hall, who served more recently from 2019-2023.

Hall, who lost to Ritonio back in 2022, believes he should be the party's standard-bearer in 2026 because he was most recently in office.

Both former governors are planning to formally enter the 2026 race over the Christmas holiday, and negotiations between the two have failed, sources say.

DeSalle attempted to talk Hall into running as her lieutenant governor running mate, but Hall rejected that offer.

"He was governor himself. It would be very hard for him to serve as a Number Two after he served as a Number One," said one source.

Hall proposed that DeSalle serve as his running mate, but the more senior former governor, 57, declined, saying she couldn't accept a subordinate position to the much younger Hall, age 43.

Then there's another factor: moderate NAT businessman Chris Kinlock, who is a first-time candidate and running as a private sector "outsider."

Kinlock is the CEO of InLine Running Shoes, a Lamberth-based company. Despite pressure from top Nationalists in the state and even national NAT leaders, the relatively unknown Kinlock has declined to drop out of the race.

"He really has little chance of winning because he has zero support from the establishment," said one source.

However, Kinlock told Lamberth Public Radio he is hoping to be the alternative third choice.

"My two opponents in the NAT race are both former governors. They're both feuding over which one of them should be our party's nominee in 2026. They both think they somehow deserve to be the nominee. I say, let's let the NAT voters decide. I'm hoping to be that third choice that is above all the drama and infighting. And maybe I can squeeze past them with 35% of the vote," said Kinlock.

He hasn't released any financial disclosures yet, but those who know Kinlock say he is a low-level millionaire capable of dropping at least a few million dollars of his own personal fortune into his campaign.

DeSalle and Hall are less affluent, but both enjoy high name recognition and popularity in the Kalnier NAT party. And they share something in common: both lost to Ritonio in separate races.

But in 2026, Ritonio won't be on the ballot. Kalnier limits its governors to just two terms for life. Ritonio, who first served as governor from 2015-2019 and more recently has served since 2023, will be forced to leave office in 2027 and will be barred from running again.

That means there's uncertainty in the governor's race on the Conservative side, too.

Current Lt. Gov. Marie Dehignen has hinted she is considering running, while former Drogen County Sheriff and repeat candidate for office Mark Radowski has also expressed interest.

Businessman Steve Mikelson, who nearly defeated Federal Sen. Paul LeBouse back in 2018, is also said to be considering a run. MoneyLock CEO Bill Broadbent, an Ivy League-educated business mogul from north Lamberth, is also mulling a bid.

Both parties are slated to have contentious primaries next year, but a head-to-head battle between two former governors and darlings of the state NAT party will be a marquee race.

Allies of both DeSalle and Hall are proposing that whichever candidate is unsuccessful could serve as a running mate to the successful nominee, meaning either a DeSalle-Hall or Hall-DeSalle ticket. This option has been offered as a compromise between the two.

However, that proposal assumes that Chris Kinlock does not win the primary. If Kinlock, the political newcomer, wins the race as a "dark horse" candidate, both DeSalle and Hall would likely be left out in the cold.

Kinlock has implied he would choose someone else as his running mate, should he win the NAT's backing in the primary election.

No matter how the chips fall, it will be a tough race for the NAT. While Kalnier remains a liberal-leaning state, Kalnier elects its governors in off-presidential election years, making it easier for insurgent Conservatives to win the governorship.

Adding to that factor, Conservatives enjoyed unexpected success in the 2022 elections in Kalnier, with construction company owner Scott Revard winning narrowly in a surprise upset against NAT incumbent Paul LeBouse.

"Kalnier is still a liberal state, so the NAT has a natural advantage," said Dr. Chris Timmons, a political science professor at Northern Kalnier University in Lockport. "But, you can't discount Conservatives. They had a great year last year in Kalnier. They ousted a well-known and popular NAT incumbent senator with a virtually unknown Conservative challenger. And the national mood is still somewhat favorable to the Conservative party. I would not be assuming this race favors the NAT at this point, I think it's still really up in the air."

Ritonio was asked by reporters during a press conference last week who he would like to see succeed him. The governor said it's too early to tell, but he did express strong confidence in Dehignen.

"I don't even know who's running yet and who will throw their hat into the ring," said Ritonio. "But I can tell you, we have an excellent lieutenant governor, Marie Dehignen. And should she decide to run, I think she would be difficult to beat."

Dehignen has said she will decide on a potential run for governor over the Christmas holiday.

If she runs, she will be the first Conservative woman to run for governor in Kalnier history. She currently is the second female lieutenant governor in state history. The first was Jennifer Knowles, who served under Conservative Gov. Joe Gramma.

Hennemott polls best against Ellsworth

CHRISTEN--KERR, E. Deschire -- Former Gov. Val Hennemott is the leading NAT candidate to run against Conservative incumbent Gov. Mark Ellsworth in 2026, according to recently released poll results.

The polls, conducted by Justicia, a left-wing polling firm, found the former governor from Christen-Kerr to be the best-matched against Ellsworth, who is seeking reelection next year.

The two faced off back in 2022, when Hennemott was in office and she was seeking reelection amid the political fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. In that race, Ellsworth defeated Hennemott 51.6 to 47.4 percent, respectively.

This past summer, Hennemott announced her intention to seek a rematch with Ellsworth. She has three opponents in the NAT primary race, however, including state Sen. Frank Capriatti of Poole, multi-millionaire tech CEO Chris Bymers of Freelan, and Shansho Mayor Patsmith "Pat" Dudragovsky.

Justicia's polling found Hennemott comes closest to beating Ellsworth in a potential election, with 48% of respondents choosing her and 50% choosing Ellsworth.

Dudragovsky had almost identical polling numbers against Ellsworth, though Ellsworth received 51% support in a hypothetical race between the two men.

Bymers, a political newcomer who moved to East Deschire back in 2021 from Wilkonshire, receives 47% support against 52% for Ellsworth.

Capriatti, the most outspoken, liberal and controversial of the four NAT candidates, was far behind Ellsworth in a hypothetical match-up, earning just 42% to Ellsworth's 57 percent, respectively.

The poll results are good news for Hennemott, who has struggled to clear the NAT field in the primary race.

When she initially declared her candidacy for the 2026 governor's race, Hennemott and her campaign staff had hoped the former governor would scare other NAT candidates out of the race. A few potential candidates did rule out a run when Hennemott entered the race, but Capriatti, Bymers and Dudragovsky all decided to stay in the race.

Hennemott and her surrogates have leaned heavily on her three remaining NAT rivals, pressuring them to drop out of the race.

The Capriatti, Bymers and Dudragovsky campaigns all confirmed that either Hennemott herself or her allies have reached out to their campaigns and have urged all three men to withdraw from the race.

Capriatti, especially, has faced strong pressure to bow out, given his less-than-impressive polling numbers and his confrontational personality, which makes him prone to gaffes. But for now, the state senator, who comes from a highly political family, says he will stay in the race.

"I'm running for governor because I believe I am the best person to take down Mark Ellsworth," Capriatti told reporters last week at the state capitol in Derosa. "I like Val Hennemott, and I agree with her on a lot of policies, but let's face it, she can't beat Mark Ellsworth. She already lost to him once. What are the chances she can beat him this time?"

For his part, Bymers, who has few political connections and roots in East Deschire, said he is running for governor and staying in the race because he provides "a private sector perspective."

"One thing that makes me unique in this race is I'm not a politician. I'm the only candidate who is not a politician. The rest of them are life-long politicians. I have never ran for office before. I run a business. I know how to run a company and how to make money. And I think that's a valuable asset that all the other candidates, whether they're NAT or Mark Ellsworth...none of them have ever ran a business before. So I think that sets me apart," said Bymers in a sit-down interview at his home in rural Lynchman County.

Dudragovsky, who has previously endorsed Hennemott and campaigned for her back in 2022 and 2018, said he considers Hennemott to be "a very good friend," but he also doubts Hennemott can beat Ellsworth in a rematch.

"Look, I love Val. She is a very good friend of mine. I've known her for years, I've supported her in the past when she ran for governor first in 2018 and then again in 2022. I campaigned for her, I enthusiastically tried to rally votes for her. But at the end of the day, we all want the NAT to win. We're Nationalists, and we want our party to win. And, to be frank, while I love Val and I think she's great, I am not convinced she can win against Ellsworth in 2026. I think I can beat him. I know I can beat him. And we need someone who can win," said Dudragovsky during a press conference in Shansho last week.

He added that his intention to stay in the race "is not personal, it's just business."

Hennemott responded this week in an interview with Tableau Magazine, telling reporter Stephanie Arrens that she "appreciates" her NAT challengers "passion," but she is best-positioned to take on Ellsworth in 2026.

"I think they're all good guys, they're good men. But all the data shows I'm the best person to run against Mark Ellsworth next year. The polling supports that, I have the most name recognition, I have the most money out of the four of us, I have the most political support, both statewide and nationally, and I know Mark Ellsworth. I've already ran against him once. I know how he operates and what annoys him and sends him over the edge. I know what makes him tick and what makes him make mistakes. I know how to run against him. And I know this state like the back of my hand," said Hennemott.

Asked why NAT voters should give her another chance even though she lost to Ellsworth in 2022, Hennemott dismissed her defeat, citing the "extremely close nature" of the 2022 race, and saying Ellsworth simply won because of a national anti-incumbent wave.

"2022 was a fluke. It was a strong year for anti-incumbent challengers. We were just coming out of the pandemic, and there was a lot of litigation surrounding the pandemic and how government, both nationally and at the state level, handled the shutdowns and the social distancing requirements and all of that. Mark Ellsworth rode that wave all the way into shore. He won't have that wave this time. This time, he's the incumbent, and he is the status quo. We are the challengers offering a better way forward, a better path ahead. And I think the voters are going to grab onto our vision for this state and they're going to demand a change."

Ellsworth was asked about his potential 2026 NAT opponents, and declined to get into the specifics of each candidate.

In a written statement, his deputy press secretary, Allison Reach, said "Governor Ellsworth is prepared to run against any left-wing lunatic the Nationalist Party decides to run against him."

Reach projected confidence heading into 2026, citing a "resurging economy" [sic] and a crackdown on homeless people and illegal immigrants.

"The people of East Deschire are more prosperous today and safer today because of Governor Mark Ellsworth," said Reach. "We are confident that the people of East Deschire will overwhelmingly vote to reelect Mark Ellsworth next year when he runs for reelection."

The four NAT candidates are slated to have their first debate in Derosa on January 26.