Duvan didn't want Zeme as running mate, leaked emails show

GRASS. CITY -- Damoign Gov. Jenna Duvan (N) wanted to pick a more exciting running mate in her 2024 reelection campaign, a trove of leaked emails revealed.

The emails, between Duvan and her top campaign staff and advisors, reportedly show Duvan complaining about her running mate Jeff Zeme (N).

Duvan wanted a more outgoing and popular running mate, but ultimately chose Zeme because he was "boring" and "practical," according to the emails.

"He [Zeme] is boring and has no flair. I'd much rather have someone more exciting running next to me, but he's a safe pick politically, and his boringness counters my big personality," wrote the governor in an email to campaign chair Rick Kulley back in August 2024.

Other emails reveal Duvan calling Zeme "unexciting," "stiff," and "nerdy."

"But that's a good thing, because I have a reputation as being sexy and showy, and having a boring nerd next to me looks more down to earth," the governor said to chief campaign communications director Sarah Marshall Stevens.

Not all her comments were negative, however. 

Duvan praised Zeme for sticking by her and being loyal.

"Jeff is a nice guy who is always loyal and always has my back. In the end, that's what you need most in a running mate," said Duvan in an email to her campaign attorney, Vickie Floyd.

The emails were leaked by an anonymous source at the progressive Graffiti Upwork.

Asked about the emails Friday, Duvan apologized and said she had already spoken to Zeme.

"You know, Jeff and I had a conversation about this a long time ago before we even became running mates. I was honest with him and frank with him about our appearances and the public's perceptions of us. And I did say some rude things about him. I didn't say them in a purposely rude way, but they came across rude and hurtful. And for that, I apologize to my good friend Jeff Zeme. I've apologized to him in private earlier this week, because I'm just so embarrassed with how it came across and how people perceived those comments," said the governor.

"The truth is, Jeff Zeme may not be the most exciting and exuberant politician out there. He's maybe not the most engaging or inspiring or a captivating speaker. But you know what? He's a great guy. He's a loyal guy. He knows policy like no one else I know. He is intelligent, he is committed, he is a team player, and he gives me the best advice. And really, I would not be where I am today without his loyal friendship and partnership," she said.

Zeme was asked about the emails in a radio interview with 4LocalLive on Tuesday.

"She's called me a 'nerd' and 'boring' to my face before," said Zeme, laughing. "It's really not news. Everyone knows I'm sort of nerdy and not the most charismatic. And I think you have to remember when you're running for office and choosing a running mate, like Jenna has done, you have to consider how the other person appears and looks and acts and how their public perception is. Politics is all about appearance and perception. If you have somebody too flashy or too showy who seems superficial and materialistic, that can really hurt you with voters. Sometimes the boring guy is the better choice," said Zeme.

He added that he has forgiven Duvan and the two share a close relationship.

"She comes over and has dinner at my house with my wife and kids. I meet with her multiple times a week. She asks for my advice, I give her my advice. And ultimately, she does whatever she wants because she's the governor and she has the final say," said Zeme.

It's unclear who, exactly, Duvan would have preferred over Zeme, as her running mate.

She considered former Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol, but Duvan and Kastol previously dated a decade ago, raising a personal relationship issue.

Duvan considered Assemblyman Bill Blair, who has previously ran for governor too. But he was ruled out by Duvan's campaign team for the same reason as Zeme, being too boring.

"You have to strike the right balance with your lieutenant governor running mate selection," says Kevin Mullins, an NAT political operative based out of Eastholm. "If you get someone too boring, the voters will be bored and turned off. If you get someone with too much personality who is flashy and loud, that turns voters off too. If you get someone too old, the voters consider that person to be geriatric. If you get someone too young, they may seem unexperienced and uncapable. So, you really have to find that right balance. Sometimes the more boring person is a better choice," said Mullins.

Duvan and Zeme ran together on the same ticket for the first time in 2024, the first election in which Damoign's governor and lieutenant governor were elected on a joint ticket.

Previously, the lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor, frequently resulting in the positions being split by the two political parties.

The Duvan-Zeme duo easily held off Conservatives George Velmar and Dianne Roselli in the 2024 general election, 52.1 to 46.6 percent, respectively.

Duvan is the first Damoign governor in modern history to be elected to a third term. Previous governors were limited to just two terms.

The state legislature passed a law in 2022 that allows a governor to seek an unlimited number of terms in the governorship.

However, the voters of Damoign had perviously voted for term limits. The legislature's 2022 law made previous voter-passed laws void.

The Conservative Party is still filing lawsuits and motions to get term limits back in place.

For now, Duvan could seek reelection again in 2028 if she wants. If she chooses to step down, Zeme could be a leading candidate to replace her, though there are a host of other NAT candidates who would likely enter the race too.

Conservatives' top choice in Carova declines to run for governor

CAROVA, CITY, Car. -- Attorney General Sean Travern is not running for governor, no matter how many Conservative politicians and party leaders try to convince him.

Finishing up his second term as AG, Travern was widely seen as a 2026 gubernatorial candidate, and he's expressed interest in the state's top job in the past.

But for months, Travern has declined overtures from party leaders to seek the governorship.

Sources close to Travern say he is reluctant to challenge popular incumbent Gov. Dan Sallovich (N), who is seeking reelection.

Travern has not said much publicly about his decision to forego the governor's race, only telling the media last month that he is "ready to be back in the private sector."

"I've been in state government for going on eight years now," he said at a press conference announcing his intent to not seek election in 2026. "I'm ready for a vacation and ready to get back to work in the private sector, where profit and performance matter much more."

Aides and allies of the attorney general say Travern is confident he could beat Sallovich in a head-to-head match up in November. However, defeating Sallovich would be difficult, expensive, and likely a nasty political fight, something Travern would prefer to avoid, sources say.

"It's not that he doesn't think he can beat Dan Sallovich. He thinks he could win, he thinks his chances would be pretty good. But in order to win, it would be a nasty, brutal fight. And he just doesn't want to deal with that right now," said one source, who asked to remain anonymous, since they were not permitted by Travern to speak to the media.

"I think he just wants to go on vacation and get a good job and just go back to having a normal life for a little while," said another anonymous source who works with Travern, though both sources told GNN they expect Travern to run for higher office in the future.

"I don't see this as retirement. He's not retiring, he's just taking a break. [He's] gearing up for a future run for governor or senator," said the second source.

Travern's declination leaves Conservatives with only two lesser-known candidates for governor. Construction company owner Michael Drake of Carova City and businessman Andrew Eskin of Beren.

Drake, who has never sought public office before, was the first to enter the race, and he has collected the most endorsements from party officials and prominent figures.

His campaign has centered on blue collar workers and the trades. He often emphasizes that he doesn't have a college degree, although he has gone to trade schools and received certifications for plumbing, electrician work and contracting.

"I'm proof that you don't have to go to college and graduate school and get an MBA or a law degree to be successful," Drake told a reporter from The Grassadellia City Times. "I'm a multi-millionaire business owner, and I did it through hard work, good business practices, and leadership."

Eskin, a lawyer and stock trader, is a former state senator from Beren. He splits his time between Carova and Grassadellia City. He's focused on his economic background as an asset in the race for governor.

"Carova is at a crossroads. We can keep misspending our money and growing our social safety net, which disincentives people to work and bloats government, or we can trim our spending, spend responsibly, and empower Carovan workers," said Eskin.

Travern's deferral means either Drake or Eskin will be the CNS' nominee.

While he's not in the race, Travern still looms large over it, with many suspecting he'll seek the governorship in 2030.

His endorsement would also carry a great deal of weight among CNS primary voters, who highly regard the attorney general.

Former Gov. Dan Wainwright (C), who lost to Sallovich back in 2022, was considering running for a rematch or for the state's open senate seat, which is up for grabs this year. However, Wainwright's family and advisors convinced him to stay out of the 2026 races.

Instead, the former governor, senator and attorney general will help campaign for his son Dan Wainwright Jr., who is running for attorney general.

The younger Wainwright is likely to face Nationalist Dan McGregor in the AG race.

The former governor, Wainwright Sr., has not made an endorsement in the CNS race yet. Sources close to him say he favors Eskin, but is open to Drake too.

Sallovich remains popular with NAT voters and independent voters. His approval among Conservative voters has dwindled in recent years, as the governor has expanded the social safety net and has moderately raised taxes.

If he wins reelection later this year, Sallovich will become Carova's first governor to win reelection.

Carova has two senate seats up for election this year. Conservative incumbent Sawyer Upton is up for reelection, while longtime Nationalist Ann Kocheni is retiring after more than 30 years in the Senate.

Former Sen. Karen Coriano is likely to seek Kocheni's seat, while Conservatives Donna Creilo and Jim Calisto run for the position on the CNS side.

No major NAT candidates have filed to challenge Upton, although former appointed Sen. Bob McGregor is mulling a bid. Former Lt. Gov. Carson Latzo is also considering running.

Ugorachin to challenge Traetori in Roddenshire

COLCICHUTT, Rodd. -- After losing her Senate seat in 2024 by a sliver, former Sen. Anita Ugorachin (N) is seeking a comeback, and this time she'll be running against her former Conservative colleague Sen. Frank Traetori.

Ugorachin, who was known as one of the most progressive senators in the chamber, formally entered the Roddenshire senate race yesterday, filing papers to seek Traetori's seat.

Ugorachin starts her race with a few advantages. She's well-known in the small state, after serving for two terms. She's a prolific fundraiser, especially among women's and minority rights groups. And Roddenshire is a blue state, which tips the race in her favor.

Traetori, a staunch law-and-order conservative, is seeking a third term. Though deeply unpopular with left-wing voters, Traetori has a strong following among conservative voters, and in recent years has appealed more to independent and and moderate voters.

Both candidates have high name recognition and strong support from their national and state parties.

The fate of the race may well come down to voter turnout. If Conservative voters show up in large numbers to back Traetori, he may win. If Conservative voters stay home and NAT voters flood the polls, Ugorachin may be swept back into office.

Ugorachin beat Traetori once back in 2012. Traetori made a comeback in 2014 by beating then Sen. Vince Montimado (N). He beat Montimado again in 2020. Ugorachin won a second term in 2018 against a little-known Conservative opponent.

But her run for a third term in 2024 ran into a roadblock when Hong Kong-born Chinese Grassadellian and political newcomer Victoria Kejung (C) challenged her. Riding a nationwide Conservative tide, Kejung narrowly topped Ugorachin by a 51-48% margin.

But now Ugorachin, the first Vietnamese-Grassadellian senator, will face another tough race against Traetori, who already has $4.3 million in the bank.

Ugorachin has $1.1 million left over from her 2024 campaign, so she won't start from scratch. But both candidates and parties will have to raise a hefty amount of cash for the race, as Roddenshire has three media markets, including the Grassadellia City and Mavocke markets, which are two fo the most expensive for advertisements.

In her campaign announcement, Ugorachin said she is running "to finish the work we started." She railed against Traetori and his "ultra-right-wing billionaire friends" whom "he constantly votes to protect."

"Frank Traetori has no idea what it's like to be a normal person who has a normal life and normal bills. He doesn't know what it's like to struggle to pay rent. He doesn't know what it's like to struggle to pay a surprise medical bill or to pay for kids sport equipment or summer camp. Or how hard it is for a single mother or father trying to pay the bills and raise a kid at the same time. All Frank Traetori knows is how to get bigger returns on corporate stocks and how to expand one's stock portfolio," she said.

Traetori shot back on X, formerly Twitter, saying "Ugorachin is in bed with the national NAT party. She's raised millions from these left-wing groups. For someone who rails against rich people, she sure has raised a lot of money and hob-knobbed with a lot of these same rich people she claims to fight against."

A iVote poll released Thursday found Traetori leading Ugorachin by nearly six points, 52.8% to 46.2 percent, respectively, with a little over one percent choosing other candidates or write-ins.

Liffrey jumps into POG governor's race, Trau to seek Senate seat again

KINGHAM, P.O.G. -- After weeks of lobbying and trying to persuade POG Sen. John Paul Liffrey (N) to seek reelection to the Senate, Nationalists senators have failed.

The freshman senator announced he will not seek reelection to the Senate and will instead seek the state's governorship, which is up for grabs this year.

Liffrey joins the governor's race late, and other NAT candidates, such as state Sen. Jean Kane, Lt. Gov. Phil Wantanab, former Lansdale Mayor Pat Gaynor, and Assemblywoman Elaine Najiscoto, are already established. 

However, Liffrey brings high name recognition to the race and a strong fundraising prowess. On the first official day of his campaign, he raised $1.7 million, with many donations coming from out of state donors.

His candidacy for governor is a blow to Federal Senate Nationalists, as they seek to rebuild their ranks following a massive loss in the 2024 elections that saw the NAT lose its majority for the first time in 20 years.

Senate Minority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign) had personally lobbied Liffrey on multiple occasions, staff for both senators confirmed. 

In a closed door meeting with the entire NAT caucus, Madronas admonished senators up for reelection this year to seek reelection, since the NAT is in the minority and most of the Senate races this year are NAT-held seats, and incumbents usually have an edge in elections.

But sources close to Liffrey say the senator has long had his eye on the governorship, and he feels the current candidates running on the NAT side are weak.

"John Paul jumped in this race because he looked at who the NAT had and he just didn't feel any of them can beat Austin Mendajara," said one source close to Liffrey, who asked for anonymity to discuss their private conversations.

Mendajara, the state's Attorney General, is the leading CNS candidate for governor, though he'll have to work his way through a contentious CNS primary race that includes former gubernatorial nominee Mike Indano, businessman Dick Johnson, Assemblywoman Nancy Garblake, professional baseball manager Tommy Maddox, and realtor Terry Silvi.

Mendajara, a 44-year-old Hispanic politician from south Lansdale, is the most popular of the Conservative bunch, but also the most moderate, which may hurt him with CNS primary voters, who skew more to the right.

In his campaign announcement, Liffrey, 52, said he is focusing his campaign on affordability and kitchen table issues.

"The Conservative candidates in this race don't understand the affordability challenges POGers face. They don't know what it's like to go to the grocery store and have to check your bank account first. They don't know what it's like to choose between your utility bill and putting food in your refrigerator. POG needs a governor who understands the costs and strains people in this state face," said Liffrey in a video announcement, surrounded by his wife and teenage kids.

Liffrey's entry into the governor's race means the NAT will have yet another open seat to defend in the Senate this year. And it's unclear which NAT candidates will jump into the race.

Former Sen. Max Kiesling (N) has expressed interest, as have Assemblywomen Maria Adebos and Jill Yateri, and former Sen. Charlie Quince (N).

On the Conservative side, former senator Dick Trau announced his intention to seek the seat. College regent Mike Holloway, who has previously ran for the senate unsuccessfully, also announced his candidacy.

Holloway is the more right-wing of the two. Trau lost reelection in 2022 to Nationalist Jim Mahenas. Trau sought Diane Coke's seat in 2024 but lost in the primary race to Conservative professional baseball coach and businessman Tommy Maddox, who in turn lost to Coke.

Rather than seek the senate seat again this year, Maddox opted to run for governor.

Polls have shown a close race for governor, with several candidates from both parties struggling for name recognition with voters.

Whoever wins both parties' primaries will likely face a hard-fought general election race, as both parties are expected to pour millions of dollars into the high-stakes race in the nation's second-most-populous state.

Another uncertainty is outgoing Gov. Ramon Ramos (N), who may run for president in 2028, or could also seek Liffrey's vacant senate seat.

In a statement on his social media channels, Ramos praised Liffrey for "his pragmatic approach to legislating" and for "charting a middle-of-the-road path through the Senate, a path that works for all POGeans."

Liffrey's late entry into the race may hinder his candidacy, but he announced an aggressive fundraising tour in order to qualify for the first televised debate in the race, scheduled for May 17. Candidates must have raised $5 million or be polling at more than 10 percent with NAT primary voters.